Libye: Saïf al-Islam Kadhafi va-t-il revenir en politique?

Si l’on en croit ce qu’il a laissé entendre au New York Times, ce retour rebattrait les cartes de la scène politique en Libye.

C’était la première fois, depuis une décennie et le renversement de son père, qu’il s’exprimait dans la presse internationale : Saïf al-Islam Kadhafi a affirmé au New York Times, en fin de semaine dernière, qu’il envisageait un retour en politique en Libye, tout en restant vague sur son programme et sur une possible candidature à la présidentielle prévue en fin d’année. Il a fait remarquer que les dirigeants politiques libyens n’ont « apporté que misère » et considéré que « l’heure est au retour au passé ».

“Bandits” Shoot Down Alpha Jet as Nigerian Airpower Comes Under Scrutiny

Weeks ago, bandits shot down a fighter jet in northern Nigeria. This comes amid questions over the Nigerian Air Force’s readiness to curb insecurity and a slew of deals by the Nigerian government to upgrade its airpower.

On July 18, “bandits” shot down a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet in northern Nigeria on the border between Zamfara and Katsina states. The pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft and avoided capture by the “bandits” using his “survival skills” until he reached an army installation. While NAF planes have crashed in the past—including earlier this year when a plane crash killed Chief of Army Staff General Ibrahim Attahiru—this is apparently the first time a jet has been brought down by enemy fire.

Mercenaries ‘impede’ peace, must leave Libya to allow elections

The continued recruitment and presence of mercenaries in Libya is impeding “progress in the peace process” and an obstacle to upcoming elections, independent UN human rights experts said on Friday, calling for their “long overdue” departure..

“Nine months after the ceasefire agreement calling for withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, mercenaries and private military and security contractors continue to operate in the country” said the chair of the UN’s Working Group on the use of mercenaries, Jelena Aparac.

Burkina Faso sees more child soldiers as jihadi attacks rise

Awoken by gunshots in the middle of the night, Fatima Amadou was shocked by what she saw among the attackers: children.

Guns slung over their small frames, the children chanted “Allahu akbar,” as they surrounded her home in Solhan town in Burkina Faso’s Sahel region. Some were so young they couldn’t even pronounce the words, Arabic for “God is great,” said the 43-year-old mother.

Burkina Faso : des enfants soldats toujours plus nombreux

Début juin, dans la région du Sahel au Burkina Faso, le village de Solhan était victime d’une attaque meurtrière perpétrée par un groupe armée. Ce groupe était majoritairement composé d’enfants et d’adolescents âgés entre 12 et 14 ans.

Le taux de violence des groupes islamistes militants africains ralentit, mais se maintient à un niveau record

Les profils de la violence perpétrée par les groupes islamistes militants d’Afrique évoluent. Ils continuent néanmoins de semer le chaos à un niveau record, causant, en moyenne, 14 évènements violents par jour.

Un examen des données sur les évènements violents attribuables aux groupes islamistes militants en Afrique pendant le premier semestre de 2021 et leur évolution au cours de la dernière décennie met en relief la menace grandissante qu’ils posent. Cependant, il existe des différences considérables dans les niveaux et les types de violences perpétrés. Voici des points clés à retenir :

Iranian Political Analyst Emad Abshenas: Iran Had The Ability To Make 10 Nuclear Bombs Even Before The JCPOA; Raisi Will Negotiate With The U.S. Only In Order To Lift The Sanctions – Not To Resolve Disagreements

Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the editor-in-chief of Iran Diplomatic Newspaper, said that unlike Rouhani’s team, President-elect Raisi’s administration does not seek to reach a fundamental resolution of all disagreements with the U.S., but only to have the sanctions lifted. He made his remarks in a show that aired on Sky News Arabiya (UAE) on July 24, 2021. Abshenas said that he does not think that Raisi’s team wants to obtain nuclear weapons, although Iran has all the technology to manufacture a bomb, and if it wanted to, it could do so at any time. Abshnenas also said that “even before the JCPOA, (Iran) had the ability to manufacture ten nuclear bombs.” He added that Iran’s first priority will be resolving disagreements with the neighboring countries and getting closer to “the countries of the East” like Russia and China instead of getting closer to Europe and the United States.

Iranian Political Analyst Emad Abshenas: Israel Uses Commercial Vessels To Smuggle Spies, Terrorists, Weapons, So Iran Will Destroy These Ships; In Future War, Iran Will Target Israel’s Nuclear Warheads

Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the editor-in-chief of Iran Diplomatic Newspaper, said that Israel uses commercial vessels to smuggle spies, collaborators, terrorists, and weapons, therefore if Israeli ships want to enter the region, Iran will not only target them but will “destroy” them.

Protesters In Tehran Chant: Death To The Dictator! Death To The Rule Of The Jurisprudent! The Mullahs Should Get Lost!

Protesters chanted: “Cannons, tanks, rockets, the mullahs should get lost” in a protest staged in Tehran, video of which was posted on Kian Sharif’s Twitter account on July 26, 2021. Protesters also chanted: “Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I will give my life only for Iran” in another video posted on the same day on the Twitter account of Iran News Wire. In the video, protesters further chanted: “Death to the dictator!” and “From Tehran to Khuzestan, unite, unite!” On July 31, 2021, videos of another protest were posted on the Irankargar YouTube channel, in which protesters burned tires and blocked a road. Protesters also chanted: “Death to the Rule of the Jurisprudent!” and “The country has no water, the massacre continues!” The protests in Tehran come following protests in Khuzestan and elsewhere, for more information, see MEMRI TV clip no 8989.

North Africa: The Arab Spring Struggle Is Far From Over

On 17 December 2010 a young Tunisian, Mohamed Bouazizi, immolated himself as a sign of protest in the small town of Sidi Bouzid. This dramatic, isolated act led to mass protests across Tunisia and much of North Africa, Yemen and Syria, eventually dubbed the ‘Arab Spring’.

Ten years on, several leaders have been ousted, but the hopes of those who joined the mass protests are shattered. The political and economic gains from the Arab Spring have been far fewer than initially expected. A striking example is the 25 July move by Tunisian President Kais Saied to dismiss the prime minister and suspend Parliament for a month. The decision came in the wake of widespread protests leading to clashes with security forces.