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A little more on the Tam command. Is this division of missions practical or merely a desktop construction?
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"According to Mauritanian television, the Mauritanian security authorities have identified the body of the terrorist Bilal among the terrorists eliminated following the military operation conducted by the Franco-Mauritanian forces in which seven French soldiers were also killed.
Bilal El-Djazaïri was one of the pillars of the organization in the Sahel, the right arm of Hamadou Abada, alias « Abdelhamid Abou Zeid » and an expert on desert trails and surrounding areas." Ennahar Online - Bilal El-Djazaïri, Abu Zeid’s right arm, eliminated in Mali |
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Critical Threads - The al Qaeda Threat from West Africa and the Maghreb: French Hostage Execution and Beyond Ulrich |
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Out of interest, the Adrar Tigharghar mentioned is about 20 miles east of Aguelhok village on the Tanezrouft piste, halfway between Kidal and Tessalit.
19.531319,1.115112 - Google Maps As often JK comes up with plausible suggestions like the raid 150 kms from the Mori border actually being nothing more than a traffickers camp not AQIM. (Heading east on 20°, we once crossed a well-used but unidentified N-S piste between Mori border and the Taoudenni piste). I believe there is no way Germaneau or indeed anything else of significance was going to be here, other than a fuel dump, as mentioned elsewhere. Then as usual he finds a way to weave it all into his anti-Alg (DRS), anti-France and, if there's space, anti-US agenda. Ch |
Mauritanian president says they are going to step up the fight across the borders
Mauritanian president unveils new plan to combat AQIM (Magharebia.com) comments Al-Qaeda's execution of an elderly French hostage has shaken much of Europe and the Maghreb alike. What repercussions will the murder, which took place following a Mauritanian army raid on an Al-Qaeda base in Mali, have on the security of Maghreb cou Algeria, Mauritania absent from summit in Bamako - still mad? Magharebia.com Algeria buys 124 Italian helicopters in its largest arms deal ever Magharebia.com Polisario yet again linked to Al Qaeda Defector: Polisario in partnership with Al Qaida |
Michel Germaneau "accidentally shot" by the French command groups?
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Hardline Islam steps out of shadows in Algeria
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Malian customs officer kidnapped
Au Mali, un douanier et un militaire enlevés par Aqmi - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq Libyan consul in Mali urges Tuaregs not to mix with AQIM Le Consul de la Libye à Bamako à propos de la présence d'Aqmi au Nord du Mali : "Nous avons insisté auprès des ex-combattants touaregs pour qu'ils ne se mêlent pas aux éléments d'Aqmi" - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel |
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AFP: Al-Qaeda executes Mali guide: security source, relative
Dunno what to make of this 2 Malians freed in Mauritania: News24: Africa: News another profile of the Aqim leadership PENPIX-The main players in al Qaeda's Saharan operations | News by Country | Reuters this is a rather active blog in French from a sahrawi perspective Diáspora saharaui: AQMI en guerre contre les Touareg ...wherein Mali is described as a stuffed turkey and Mauritania as a Trojan horse (presumably full of French soldiers) |
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Ag Bahanga in Bamako!?
This could mean some serious changes are about to happen.
InfoMali.net Le Mali en Ligne - BAHANGA SERAIT A BAMAKO ! Quote:
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Can't find confirmation that Bahanga is in Bamako.
France says it is "permanently and continously cooperating with all Sahelian countries in the fight against terrorism" El Khabar Algeria started opened in May in Algiers a centre for studying terrorism i Africa, funded by Spain. CAERT - "Centre Africain d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Terrorisme" They published this document in June http://www.caert.org.dz/ACSRTDocs/journaux/journal.pdf Also, Algeria has decided to let organizations like Amnesty International, HRW etc into the country for the first time in 20 years. IDN InDepthNews | Analysis That Matters |
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Suicide attack foiled in Mauritania - Africa - Al Jazeera English
Attack in Nema. Incidentally, just across the Malian border from where Omar le Sahraoui lives. Keenan speculates on how DRS/CIA tricked the French. And how DRS has the Americans by the balls. Plus an assortment of other outrageous claims, with no sources given. The heart of al-Qaeda in the Sahel - Focus - Al Jazeera English He also gives an account of why the tuareg Merzouk was killed, with Kidal.info as the source. If it wasn't the Algies. |
Droukdal claims the attack in Nema and the execution of an Algerian guide/customs official.
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Mauritania thwarts suicide bomb attack (Magharebia.com)
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There are some great resources on this thread. hotels las vegas Thanks for sharing. If you are business savy then you might want to check out call tracking to manger your business time..
beerbeer |
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Interesting action in the desert
AFP: Clashes between Mauritanian army and Qaeda militants: source Quote:
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A couple of days ago, France 24 reported 5 French uranium mine engineers taken prisoner in Niger.
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Mauritanian troops kill 12 Qaeda members in clash | World | Reuters
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After suffering some losses, Mauri army resorted to aerial bombing
Conflicting reports - Alg speaks of defeat, Mauri of success and Mali keeps silent. Accrochages avec AQMI : Les Maliens observent le silence, les Algériens parlent de « défaite » mauritanienne. Mauritanian army continues fighting with AQIM | NewsyStocks.com For more info on military involved French military shares intelligence with Mauretania in battle against AQMI http://i68.servimg.com/u/f68/14/88/46/39/arrive11.jpg Also: reports of several carjackings in Kidal region, Toyota 4x4s. East of Kayes on RN1 a number of vehicles including several buses were robbed at gunpoint one night last week. In south Mauretania (Wad Naga) five americans had a car accident and panicked after they were surrounded by curious locals. Tense situation right now. |
Including a short video:
France24 - French troops land in Niger amid row over Areva security Details of French now in Nimaey and also the Mauritanian offensive, inc civilian casualties: Au Niger mobilisation pour retrouver les otages alors que la Mauritanie reprend son offensive contre AQMI - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq |
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Aqim managed well after the fight started with "twenty aqim vehicles rounded up by the Mauritanian army".
Here's part of what Aqim managed to lay their hands on. http://qalaat.files.wordpress.com/20...pg?w=638&h=478 Day Picture(s): AQIM show of force � Tower'Sight – vue(s) de la citadelle Mauritanian army set up its headquarters at the airport in Timbuktu, maliweb.net :: Affrontements entre l'arm |
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The many events of late condensed by TMND UPDATE: Another Summary of the Hassi Sidi Events � The Moor Next Door
Mauri site claims MBM "Blaouar" was found dead near Timbuktu the other day, killed by his own. He's been reported dead/surrendered/disappeared before so a pinch of salt. وكالة نواكشوط للأنباء::ونا:: Security summit Mauri-Alg-Niger-Mali in Tam today to "remove the misunderstandings that persist and identify appropriate solutions, to enhance effective and concerted action" maliweb.net :: Sahel: ouverture en Alg |
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Abu Zeid portrayed in an interview with Pierre Camatte who met him four times
Abou Zeid: le stratège froid d'Al Qaida au Maghreb - De Bagdad �* Jérusalem : L'Orient indiscret The claim is now that it was the brother-in-law of MBM who was murdered by Abu Zeid the other day. Not MBM himself (but he may be next). L'Expression Edition OnLine |
Biting the hand that feeds them
Interesting report on some of the outcomes of the recent intelligence agency meeting in Algeria -
1) smugglers are to be entrained in the effort to hunt down the locations of AQIM camps (I suppose the assumption is they will work for the highest pay) 2) Initially involving Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, the group will now also include Burkina Faso, Libya and Chad. (still no Moroc) Smugglers to track al-Qaeda: News24: Africa: News |
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just my interpretations
I just read the Camatte ABZ interview too. Every time PC crops up in a trenchant article I see a strategic, French govt-sanctioned 'press release'.
Anyone else ('civilians') is expected to shut up and be grateful to be have their lives back. Interesting that ABZ asked about real time internet sat mapping on the web but can't see that it might work both ways. Re: smugglers tracking AQIM. I read it as a clumsy bluff to try and shake AQIM up and make them paranoid. AQ and smugglers surely work closely together, no? Some are bound to have a good idea of the AQ network - but will they tell? Maybe for a suitcase of USD. Ch |
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He may simply have been fishing - he's an older, non-techie guy who lives a long way from civilisation afterall. He may have heard of google earth, for example, and might have been wanting to find out how often it gets updated. |
Algeria and France are struggling for the initiative in the fight against Aqim.
How will Algeria conduct the fight without letting their troops cross the border, even after they are attacked by Aqim and invited by Mali to pursue the offenders? Mali leader complaining since he feels this is an Algerian problem that has spread to his country Le Figaro - deficit-de-cooperation-mali Quote:
Alger "peut faire plus" contre Aqmi - Europe1.fr - International Even Khadaffi joins in and promises money to northern Mali Kadhafi backs anti-AQIM effort by Mali tribal chiefs (Magharebia.com) |
TheMoorNextDoor updated his info re the attacks this July against Tigarghar mtns.
An Algerian source says that the Mauri attack was a decoy and the real attack to liberate Germenau was done by French + Algs using Alg helicopters. [url=http://themoornextdoor.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/update-re-raids-against-aqim-in-mali/]Update RE: Raids against AQIM in Mali |
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Wait, the msg was cut in half by the forum's messy editor :/
There was more TheMoorNextDoor updated his info re the attacks this July against Tigarghar mtns. An Algerian source says that the Mauri attack was a decoy and the real attack to liberate Germenau was done by French + Algs using Alg helicopters. Update RE: Raids against AQIM in Mali � The Moor Next Door Here confusion starts. The other source for this was Menas Menas Associates: Menas Reports > Focus Monthly Reports > Algeria Focus > Newsroom and then it gets Keenanesquely foggy, since Menas expert adviser on Algeria/Sahel is none other Keenan himself. e.g. - The DRS pulled the French into this to make them look bad?? Algeria is in charge of the southern desert by controlling water and fuel supply (ancient desert strategy, I reckon). Applied to Mali that would mean taking control of Araouane - Tessalit - Aguelhoc - Kidal (there may be a few more reliable waterholes) and not worrying too much about the rest of the territory - correct? |
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Menas Associates on AQIM means Jeremy Keenan, who for all his area expertise is slightly unhinged on these issues. It’s all AQIM = DRS = CIA with that guy.
[from TMND] A relief to see they are no more persuaded by JK than JK Rowling's yarns. Your average newspaper hack is alas less well informed and therefore more credulous. TMND says: “Russian machines” were used, which would suggest they were Algerian) from southern Algerian positions (likely from Bechar, Tindouf or Tamanrasset... As we know there are big Russian machines at BB Moktar, surely in range of Tessalit and Kidal. reliable waterholes [in Mali]... I believe there are many many more out there (like Timetrine where the Areva people are said to be) The ones listed are merely along strategic and well-known caravan or trade routes which therefor support settlements. Ch |
You are right, but Keenan's presence and the influence of his conspiracy theories is so prevalent it isn't really funny. MBM and Abou Zeid are both DRS agents, you know. :rolleyes:
You'll find loads of Keenaniana here https://www.menas.co.uk/sahara_focus/home.aspx His four decades of experience have given him outstanding knowledge and he must be very well connected, one would think. But when it comes to facts, he seems to be as dependent on the websites you and I and everyone can read for themselves, as in this article about a recent murder. I think over the last decade or so he has lost the grip over his presumed area of expertise. |
I think over the last decade or so he has lost the grip over his presumed area of expertise.
Before the last decade his expertise was Ahaggar Tuareg courting rituals circa 1965. Till 99 He had not been in the desert since then but was an ordinary academic, as he admitted himself. Then he became a born-again Saharan, and JK would know well what born agains can be like. As mentioned in my PM, priffe, you may have been influenced by JK's energetically promulgated agendas which only took form less than a decade ago. It's an easy mistake to make but just because he chooses to shout louder and further does not make him knowledgeable, merely someone who craves attention and to be taken seriously, as that book review quote I sent you suggested: ....But to see it, you have to look past the marks of an outsider, the signature of one who likes to say, all too often, "Jeremy Keenan was here." time.com/time/pacific I say all this because the suggestion of his regional expertise ought not go unchallenged. Level headed TMND see though him, as does anyone who takes an interest because most of them (us) do not get 99 by adding 2 + 2 ;-) Time for Keenan to retire [RW] That's the problem, he has, and has nothing better to do, IMO. Ch |
I am glad we can jointly challenge mr Keenan's assertions. :)
Here's how he is introduced by Menas: "Our speaker, Professor Jeremy Keenan is the editor of Menas Associates' weekly Algeria Politics & Security report. He is a university professor of social anthropology whose experience in advising on strategic risk, security and the political economy of the Sahara region extends over 40 years. As the author of six books on the subject, he provides briefings for the UN and other international agencies, the US State Department, FCO, a number of EU governments and, most importantly, multinational companies." A slight exaggeration, then. :D Too bad the waterhole strategy may not be leak-proof. :( |
Many interesting articles at Malijet (not a new airline).
Article here about Mali must act against AQIM (dream on). And another about Ikhalil (just opposite Bordj Moktar but in Mali). Certainly not how I remembered it a couple of years ago which shows how bad it's got there. Death threats on the security forces and customs officials in Mali, rackets of all kinds of carriers, escorts for drug shipments, firing bursts at each nightfall ... I was so startled that I wondered if we were in an organized country. And here about the feud between ABZ and MBM (as we heard, MBM's brother in law was killed in Timbuktu by ABZ guys - or something like that) And also how mobility for MBM's group has been restricted. So maybe something is being done. Meanwhile, ABZ waits with his 7 human shields, knowing that as soon as he lets them go - even for free - it could be all over for him. Ch |
What's peoples take on this article? Will the Malian and Nigerien governments be keen to pursue the option of getting Tuaregs to oust AQIM?
D'ex-rebelles touareg attendent de combattre Aqmi au Mali - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq |
News about the same topic released today in Courier International:
"La présence des terroristes islamistes d’AQMI dans le Sahara indispose de plus en plus les nomades. Ces derniers sont prêts 'a s’engager aux côtés des forces gouvernementales maliennes pour les chasser de leur territoire." MALI • Les Touaregs s’en vont en guerre contre Al-Qaida | Courrier international Best Regards, CaBRita |
What's peoples take on this article?
I would say, if they are genuinely able to do it then what's been keeping them? Recently agreed French approval and promised support perhaps? Much more politically acceptable than non-African special forces going in to do the same job - and the media will love it and simplify it to: Tuaregs v AQ. But one imagines certain elements in Mali would not want this to succeed which is why it's gone so far, no? Ch |
And now also on Ennahar Ennahar Online - On former Tuareg rebel expect combat AQIM in Mali
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"A few weeks", they say. That should be interesting to watch. Some thoughts - this will also mean touaregs fighting touaregs, to some extent. There are touaregs who have been aching to show who are the real bosses of the desert. Perhaps those young touaregs who have joined Aqim will switch sides when/if the battle begins, rather than fighting their own. What will the French say? I suspect they will want to have the hostages released before any action is taken. Abou Zeid will then be on the lookout for a quick grab of a new set of westerners, his treasure chest full so he can pay off whoever needs to be paid off. Moro, your email is bouncing! |
Tuaregs and Drug smugglers clash near Kidal.
Ex-rebels clash with drug smugglers in Mali desert | News by Country | Reuters |
This could mark the beginning of a new relationship between Bamako and the tuaregs.
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Also: cooperation between Mali and Mauretania Ennahar Online - Mali: An alleged accomplice of AQIM wanted in Mauritania, arrested in Mali Mauritanians jailed, one for spying on westerners Mauritanian court jails two Al-Qaeda militants - Yahoo! News |
G8 met with regional countries in Bamako. Algeria boycotted the talks - but Morocco was in. Can't get both under one roof.
Capital FM Kenya: G8 countries meet on facing Al Qaeda in north Africa Niger says Europe must reinforce African armies or 'move': Niger -Laredo Sun -World News If someone is interested in Polisario's involvement in kidnappings and Aqim, here is an article with several links. Don't believe all you read, but it does give food for thought. Terrorism watch in North Africa - The World Desk, Uncategorized - Macleans.ca here's Omar Sahraouis SADR birth certificate http://middle-east-online.com/meopic...9_sahraoui.jpg (looks suspiciously new?? - refuted as a forgery here) Algerias top amenokal (tuareg chief) swears allegiance to Algeria but is pessimistic AFP: Providing security is difficult in Sahel: Tuareg chief |
Mauritania Sentences 3 Al-Qaida Suspects to Death
Mauritania Sentences 3 Al-Qaida Suspects to Death
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010...a.html?_r=1&hp |
News of this interesting-looking book was passed on to me today. Includes background on Abu Zeid - from Deb Deb not less.
Ennahar Online - "Smuggling in the name of Islam," last publication by Anis Rahmani Interestingly, it repeats the suggestion made in a few places that M Germaneau died from his medical condition (rather than execution). If that is made up, it is hard to calculate who benefits by saying it (well, for me at least). As someone reminded me, things like this published in Algeria (rather than say, France) are likely to have an agenda (possible in Europe too, of course). There is no website for the publisher but they are around. Ch |
Thx, Chris. The author Mohammed Mokaddem, alias Anis Rahmani is also the editor of Ennahar and a controversial figure in Algeria. I wonder if he explains the kidnappings in Tunisia and how the Austrians were transited to Mali. And if the mentions the DRS. ;)
Ennahar Online - AQIM: a book declares revealing the true identity of Abu Zeid "The future of AQIM", he said, "is Nigeria not in the Sahel". Ennahar Online - Why this book? "... it was necessary to put an end to the great confusion among experts and the media in both Arab and European countries on many issues concerning the development of terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa...". I like this line: "Algeria has found peace and stability and it is therefore time for documentation and analysis with compelling arguments and evidence." Hear hear, Jeremy Keenan. The book 227 pages of average size Price: 700 AD Publisher: Casbah Editions |
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Mali, summing it up.
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Mauritanians back to Mali � The Moor Next Door
Former Touareg rebels eager to quash al-Qaeda (Magharebia.com) Five die in clash with al-Qaeda in north Mali: Mauritania | Radio Netherlands Worldwide Al Qaeda member surrenders to Mauritanian police - People's Daily Online So with the mauri deploying from the west, Ag Bahanga and his touaregs attacking from Kidal in the east and rival clans in Timbuktu eager to exact revenge for the assasination of one of their leaders, perhaps things aren't looking too good for MBM and Abu Zeid? |
They may have never left, although this could be a build-up for further action. One of the few things we learned from the Brit Mali ambassador was that Mori has had a permanent base in Mali for a while, and the contact in Mali in September with AQ was a blow.
We were also told is that the EU is co-funding the re-occupation of Mali army bases in the north Mali which, like Ikhalil, were abandoned a couple of Tuareg rebellions ago. However, he added any security benefits in the region would take some time. Ch |
Mali + Mauri = true
Nouvel élan dans la lutte anti-AQMI - International - El Watan
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Reports that a major operation is under way by Algerian army, possibly 500 terrorists surrounded in Northern Algeria.
http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/index.php?news=11141 |
Bit of background
A bit of background about the Algerian security forces activities during the GIA period:
Uncovering Algeria's civil war - In Depth - Al Jazeera English The accusations about AQIM nowadays all stem from this period originally, and it looks as though people might be starting to turn stones over... Tony |
More mauri boys giving themselves up
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Algeria hopes to halt a decline in tourism due to concerns over security
Algeria seeks to halt Sahel tourism decline (Magharebia.com) |
Keenan again, in defense of tuaregs
The tribulations of the Tuareg - Briefings - Al Jazeera English mauritanian deserter appears on television denouncing aqim شاب موريتاني عائد من معسكرات القاعدة يروي قصته مع السلفية وعودته الطواعية الى بلاده in arabic |
28 AQIM members hand themselves over
28 members of al-Qaeda's North African branch have defected from the group and have surrendered to the Mauritanian army.
28 boys from the ages of 14 to 22 on Sunday left al-Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb in northern Mali. 28 defect from al-Qaeda group: News24: Africa: News All in all, I think we are witnessing the first serious/successful push-back phase against AQIM since they took to the desert in 2003. |
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An initial cable from the Wikileaks leak
Found on the Guardian in a couple of minutes.
Nothing unexpected, but I've just made the briefest skim. There cannot be too much up yet- nothing at all on Canada for instance. US embassy cables: Washington launches intelligence trawl in West Sahara states | World news | guardian.co.uk |
There may well be some interesting info on Aqim and not least on Algeria in the leaked cables.
Ennahar Online - The CIA reveals secrets on the Islamic Salvation Front Abu Zeid appears in a new video Vidéo Exclusif : la première vidéo d'Abou Zeid, le ravisseur des otages français de LCIWAT (Actualité - LCIWAT) - wat.tv Ennahar Online - Abu Zeid appears on a video 'The terrorist leader was wearing a watch he kept fiddling all the time; he had his head down and did have neither the look nor the stature of a leader. The video, broadcast by the French channel, confirms what was reported by repentant terrorists who had met and known him. All called him a "tramp", especially the Mauritanian, for his bad habits and lack of personality. The video, according to experts, is recently filmed, probably this year, Abu Zeid and his men seemed to ignore that they had been filmed. It was the work of a repentant terrorists who brought it with him. In this video we could see between twenty and thirty terrorist training on weapons in the Sahara. Among these terrorists, a boy not exceeding 16, talking of jihad. You could also see very clearly the faces of some terrorist, black, from the region.' |
Some interesting cables from the US embassy in Algiers...
Cable Viewer Cable Viewer Cable Viewer http://213.251.145.96/cable/2009/12/09ALGIERS1077.html http://213.251.145.96/cable/2009/12/09ALGIERS1162.html Cable Viewer http://213.251.145.96/cable/2010/01/10ALGIERS39.html ... and Bamako http://213.251.145.96/cable/2009/12/09BAMAKO776.html http://213.251.145.96/cable/2009/12/09BAMAKO815.html found at WikiLeaks Regards Ulrich |
Malian and Algy governments don't like each other very much; US electronic surveillance over flights; US/Mali troop training details.
(plus the inclusion of Montreal to receive Algerian news- which stands out quite badly for a Canadian) It's a little more useful than the same old foreign office warnings. |
Working paper CEPT INSTEAD
The fuzzy geography of terrorism in West Africa
http://www.ceps.lu/pdf/3/art1577.pdf This just came round through Twitter Maybe someone interested |
Al-Qaeda's new front: terrorism meets crime in a lawless north African desert
Decent interview based article in the Irish Times (Dec 11, 2010) -
Al-Qaeda's new front: terrorism meets crime in a lawless north African desert Al-Qaeda's new front: terrorism meets crime in a lawless north African desert - The Irish Times - Sat, Dec 11, 2010 The no-go area now includes Timbuktu and all the most popular tourist destinations. Some foreign analysts suggest that Paris may be trying to cut off the tourist industry to exert political pressure on the Malian government, but others say the new warning was based on firm intelligence that Aqim was looking for hostages farther south. |
I think that interview was rather flawed for instance they had the geography wrong.
Anyway, Mali made several arrests with suggested links to Polisario. From many sources. Should we give it more credit coming from Malian or Mauri sources with no obvious connection to the Moroccan propaganda machine? .:Middle East Online �:. "On Thursday we arrested six major drug traffickers in the Sahara who were associates of the traffickers arrested on Tuesday by the Mauritanian army," the security source said. She said the men come from the ranks of the Polisario Front which is fighting for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco. They were part of "one of the three major networks of traffickers who pass through the Sahara and sell the drugs to Europe," she said. The Mauritanian army said on Wednesday it had killed two men and captured seven during a raid on a band of drug traffickers on the eastern Mauritanian border with Mali on Tuesday." AfricaNews - Mali: arrest of narcotics barons linked to AQIM - The AfricaNews articles of rubakana "The ringleader, a senior in the Sahrawi Polisario leadership Front is Sultan Ould Bady, the leader of the "third largest drug trafficking ring in the direction of Europe" and would also directly involved kidnappings of foreigners in the Sahel perpetrated by Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)." AFP: Six 'major' drug traffickers arrested in Mali Some more from a Spanish site Kidnapping, drug trafficking dominate AQIM crimes, analysts say Quote:
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One man with a gun and a grenade. Two pedestrians injured. A very similar attack was launched against the French embassy in Nouakchott in August, 2009. Meanwhile the Moroccans arrested 27 belonging to a cell in Amghala, West Sahara. http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/wo...o-algeria.html And Algeria is launching a large scale offensive against Aqim strongholds in Kabylia Shimron Letters: Algerian Offensive Against AQIM Underway They are said to have them surrounded and expect it to last a month or so. |
Algerian Riots
Algerian forces attack allies of al-Qaida | World news | Guardian Weekly
A little more of the same on the northern AQIM roundup operation. Algerian riots resume over food prices | World news | The Guardian This seems to be much more than the usual low scale stuff that seems to be in the papers there everyday: much more sustained, in more places and with more people. Belcourt and Bab El Oued are basically downtown Algier- on the water to the southeast and northwest of the centre and port, to make it relevant on here. Hopefully if anybody is driving they already have a guide. |
Tuaregs intercept drug smugglers at Tamesna, North Mali, with fatalities:
Nord du Mali : Sept morts et plusieurs blessés dans des combats armés - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq |
via the cables:
" ATT said he thinks Algeria's intelligence services and army are holding up cooperation, and believes the Algerian army is infiltrated with Salafists." Encouraging. |
Sadly the last two kidnappings in Niger has caused Point Afrique to cancel the rest of the season
for Atar, Mopti and also Chad. Ennahar Online - Hostages: Point Africa tour operator suspended its last flights in the Sahel "AQIM (al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb) won the first round. The fear has been installed. The tourists stop coming," said Mr. Freund. "There are not enough people. Our financial reserves melt," he summarized, explaining for example that there were only "nine people on the plane in early January between Paris and Atar. Same for serving the Mopti: "I will maintain the flights until 23 January for the return of holidaymakers. There are 80 people per flight where financial balance is 120". |
Will this scare off the tour operaters still running trips in the region?
We have developed several months warning against travel tour operators in this region;" some accept the advice of the Government, others consider that they know better as our diplomats and our experts." "I want to remind them it's their criminal liability which is committed if, tomorrow, there is an accident," he said. Fillon met en garde les tour-opérateurs sur les risques au Sahel | News by Country | Reuters |
Is this article accuarte? I thought Ag Bahanga returned to mali a while ago?
Mali : un ex-chef rebelle touareg de retour après son exil en Libye - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq If he is back there, do you think there is any significance to his return? Preparing to have a go at the AQIM bases and/or sort out the drug traffickers? |
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