The Significance Of The Turkish Straits To The Russian Navy

Four days into the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine on February 27, 2022, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu declared that the operation in question was a “war.” He explained to CNN Türk, “Under these conditions, we will apply the Montreux agreement. Article 19 is pretty clear. In the beginning, it was a Russian attack and we evaluated it with experts, soldiers, and lawyers. Now it has turned into a war. This is not a military operation; it is officially a state of war.” The Turkish government has also sought to use the convention to de-escalate tensions in the Black Sea and, more broadly, has cautioned all countries not to send any warships into the Black Sea—perhaps to limit the possibility of Western maritime escalation.

Ukraine soldiers to leave UN mission in eastern DRC

A contingent of 250 Ukrainian peacekeepers are to leave eastern DRC and return to Ukraine.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the UN.

A date is yet to be announced for the departure. The withdrawal will also include equiment and helicopters.

Russian mercenaries have landed in West Africa, pushing Putin’s goals as Kremlin is increasingly isolated

They wear army fatigues with no flag and carry Kalashnikov assault rifles. They guard the presidential palace and track extremists in the scrubland. Hundreds of Russian mercenaries have landed here over the last three months, according to regional and Western officials, providing a shadowy source of protection as this nation’s alliances with the West unravel.

Strategic Implications for Africa from Russia’s Invasion in Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine is a wake-up call to the implications of Russia’s attempts to export its governance model to Africa—with sobering consequences for African sovereignty and stability.

It’s commonly held that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective for invading Ukraine is to install a puppet regime that is pliable to Moscow’s interests. If so, this would be consistent with the approach Russia has taken with its forays into Africa in recent years.

Nigerian Navy Maritime Operations: International Maritime Bureau (IMB) exits Nigeria from piracy attack prone countries, award’s 77 per cent success to Nigeria

Following the significant decline in piracy attacks in Nigerian waters put at 77 per cent occasioned by the Nigerian Navy’s increased counter security operations against Maritime criminality, oil theft and other attacks, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has exited Nigeria from its Piracy List.

Mali to investigate disappearance of Mauritanians on its soil

Mali said it would investigate the disappearance of several Mauritanians on its territory, which has caused a diplomatic row between the two West African countries.

Mauritania summoned Mali’s ambassador on Tuesday “to protest the recent criminal acts perpetrated by regular Malian forces against our defenceless and innocent citizens in Malian territory”, according to a foreign ministry statement.

West African Coastal Terror Attacks: Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

Violent extremism is escalating in West Africa’s coastal states. This is terrifying for citizens but is just the tip of the insurgency iceberg. Under the surface lies a covert network that ensures terrorism continues in the region. Evidence is emerging that jihadists’ activities within and through coastal states are enabling them to fund, staff and run the logistics they need to thrive.

Russia Reveals Details on US-Funded Biological Labs in Ukraine

“The U.S. planned to conduct work on pathogens of birds, bats, and reptiles in Ukraine in 2022,” Konashenkov said.

On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov denounced that the U.S. financed Ukranian biolabs to carry out experiments with bat coronavirus samples.

Islamic State Announces Death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi and Appointment of New ‘Caliph’

The following post is my translation of the audio message “And among them are those who have fulfilled and died,” released today by the Islamic State’s al-Furqan Media, featuring a speech by the group’s new spokesman ‘Abu Omar al-Muhajir,’ who confirms not only the death of the previous leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi but also the death of the previous spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurashi. In a speech that very much recalls 2019, he adds that the Majlis Shura did not delay to implement Abu Ibrahim’s counsel and appoint a new leader as caliph: Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (whose name circulated among some Islamic State supporters in the aftermath of Abu Ibrahim’s death). He urges the Muslims and mujahideen to pledge allegiance to the new caliph.

Conversation with Mr. Patrick Achi, the Prime Minister for the Ivory Coast

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This Africa Center event serves as a public event to discuss the economic situation of the African continent in a post-Covid context.

While international development organizations stress African resilience, this event will take place during the Ivory Coast’s Prime Minister’s visit in Washington D.C. this month. This event will feature remarks from Prime Minister Achi about the Ivory Coast Vision 2030. Vision 2030 is a large development strategy that aims at improving the business environment, boosting the role of the private sector, and fostering job creation.