Islamist activity in the Sahara in relation to travel security

[Dave The Hat]

Ennahar Online - A Moroccan terrorist eliminated and a Libyan arrested in Illizi

[priffe]

Ennahar Online - Three vehicles loaded with weapons from Libya seized in Illizi

Aqim leaders El Para in jail and Hassan Hattab in house arrest
Hattab assigné à résidence, Abderrazak El Para en prison - A la une - El Watan

Possible links between Boko Haram (Nigeria), Al-Shabaab (Somalia) and Aqim
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...ity&Itemid=113

[Chris Scott]

I see that the first Ennahar report from DTH says "... near the Algerian-Libyan border, east of the region of Debdab" which could put it in Libya, south of Ghadames. This suggests the Alg army is also able or prepared to cross that border to take action, as well as into Niger (as reported on this thread 3 weeks ago). Debdeb is 5km from the Libyan border.

It's a bit clearer in the second Ennahar report from priffe, but it's worth mentioning that by '.. in Illizi' they mean Illizi the huge province or wilaya, running from Tunisia down to Niger, not the town on the road to Djanet.

There's been this confusion before with Tam the town and Tam the wilaya.

I wonder if the sudden action in Mali is as a result of the heavier Libyan army weapons thought to be leaking out to AQIM based there.

Ch

[priffe]

Wonder why they go over Algeria, wouldn't it be much safer going south into Niger and then head west for Mali?
But then the other day three vehicles were intercepted by Niger military. Semtec, detonators and weapons onboard. Touareg driver, well known from rebellion days.
Lots of bad libyan stuff in Mali now, while bombs are going off daily in Nigeria, even in Abuja.

read the blogs for updates like Sahel Blog
also
http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...and&Itemid=105
Nouakchott court sentences al-Qaeda supporters (Magharebia.com)

further
Aqim now armed with SAM missiles can bring down civilian airliners
http://shimronletters.blogspot.com/2...ground-to.html
France wants to take control of water holes?
http://www.maliweb.net/category.php?NID=77505

[GD_SPb]

La Mauritanie détruit un campement d'Aqmi au Mali, au moins 4 blessés - Le Point

[priffe]

Mauritanian troops attack AQIM camp in Mali - Threat Matrix

This could be good for us - the "Vigipirate plan"! - if it works
Ennahar Online - Mali: a securing device for tourist sites in preparation

Surprising - El Para talks
Abderrazak El Para : Révélations sur l’itinéraire d’un chef terroriste - Dossier - El Watan

[Richard Washington]

Another engagement between the Mauri army and AQIM in SE Mauri....

Members of al-Qaeda's north African branch on Tuesday attacked an army base near Bassiknou in southern Mauritania close to the border with Mali, a military source told AFP.

"Many terrorist vehicles took part in the attack. The national army followed them and took the initiative against them," the source said, adding army aircraft did battle with members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim).



Al-Qaeda attacks Mauritania army base: News24: Africa: News

[CaBRita]

Mauritanian forces repel militants from army base
BBC News - Mauritanian forces repel militants from army base

[José Brito]

Mauritanian army repels al-Qaeda attack (Magharebia.com)


'Important' AQIM emir killed in Mali (Magharebia.com)

[Chris Scott]

It says that 'important emir' could be Abou Zeid which would be significant but seems unlikely if another raid soon followed on Bassiknou.

I tried to locate the 'Wagadou Forest' last time it was mentioned, but all I could work out was that it's somewhere along the horizontal Nioro border of Mali/Mori. Don't know what AQIM would be doing based so far south in Mali. I thought ABZ was based far northeast towards Timetrine (which, with its El Para connection mentioned below, is where the 2003 hostages may have been kept. I always wondered where it was).

Ch

[priffe]

Wagadou forest west of Nara would serve as a base for attacking Mauretania. But it is also only some 400 kms from Bamako, which makes you really wonder how the Malians can accept it, and wait for their Moorish comrades to do the job.
Khaled el-Chinguetti was one of those claimed to have been killed by Maure forces, his real name was al-Mimoun Ould Aminou. They supposedly were training him to become a leader.
Victoire d'AQMI - Ansar al Haqq
Kal the Swedish-speaking Moor next door writes more
Thurston on AQIM Confrontations; Profile of a Mauritanian AQIM Fighter The Moor Next Door

Why is google translating 'Wagadou' to 'Ghana'? (found the answer - Wagadou is a name for the ancient Ghana empire)

Speculation - with air support the French/Mauretanians may be able to make life for Aqim difficult enough that they will emigrate and build new camps - in Niger or Nigeria, perhaps.
What will the desert be like when/if they're gone?

[Richard Washington]

Originally Posted by priffe

Speculation - with air support the French/Mauretanians may be able to make life for Aqim difficult enough that they will emigrate and build new camps - in Niger or Nigeria, perhaps.
What will the desert be like when/if they're gone?

I would guess it is mainly the French who are providing the air support - as I understand it the Mauri airforce is v.modest.

Whether AQIM decamp east or not really depends on what they are trying to achieve in Mauritania. I find that quite hard to work out because every time AQIM attacks a Mauri army base, the Mauri army will strengthen its resources and resolve against AQIM. Perhaps AQIM wants to govern the whole region but at the present growth rates of AQIM that is going to take decades. Attacking the odd military base isn't going to achieve that goal any time soon. A lower profile would surely help the smuggling side of the AQIM business.

If AQIM did push off to the east, then it would take a long time to be sure that had in fact happened. The first kidnappings in Algeria were in 2003. Then there was a long break till 2008 (Austrians in Tunisia). At the start of 2008 I was pretty convinced they had left the desert - 5 years is a long time to be taking it easy in NE Mali.

In an earlier announcement, Mali was to offer up 75000 or so troops to fight AQIM. This in my mind would be a clear mistake. That number of troops would be poorly trained, poorly resourced and unmotivated. They would be easy pickings for AQIM. What is needed is a crack battalion of 200 or so, with units of well organised and highly motivated fighters 20-30 men strong. The idea would be to target the AQIM leaders - to take the head off the tape worm as it was put in Battle of Algiers.

[Dave The Hat]

Ennahar Online - Two terrorists eliminated and weapons recovered in Tamanrasset

[Richard Washington]

As ever, the geography in these articles is wanting:

"The operation took place on the border between Algeria and Mali, more precisely in the region of Amkizi, 28 km southwest of Tamanrasset."

Tam is about 400km from the Mali/Algerian border.
Does anyone know where Amkizi is?

This latest operation is mixed news for Tam. On the upside, the Algerian military and intelligence shows its capabilities again. If this were Mali or Niger, the outcome would surely have been different. On the downside, if it really did happen 28km from Tam, then that is not good news for the security of the town.

[Chris Scott]

I just tried to find Amkizi on IGN 200k (old) map. Nothing there, only Amsel village fits the distance, just off the TSH. To the SW only rock and rubble, but maybe that's the point.

In March (was it?) we read of an AQIM cell dug out of Abalessa village not far NW of Tam. If, as the report says, they're after raiding military bases, Tam would be a great but pretty bold place to do it. Every other compound there seems to be a base of some sort.

You'd think the bases at Bordj Moktar, Tim Missao or IGZ would be easier targets to hit and run. Maybe Tam was planned as a suicide job, as they tried in Nema last year.

But from what's reported I do get the impression the Alg army is on the case in the south.

Ch