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Interesting, assuming it's correct. Last week at the FCO in London the Brit ambassador in Mali (& Niger) explained to us that part of the reason Alg can't get stuck in in north Mali was because the army were 'forbidden by their constitution from crossing borders' (this fact was scoffed at by some present). In recent months all have been invited by Mali, no?
Anyway, perhaps 'instructors' is different. A few days ago the Brit ambassador to Alg said this: Quote:
Algerian troops enter Mali to fight al-Qaeda - News - Mail & Guardian Online Ch |
Now official
L’ANP envoie des troupes au Mali et assiste une opération militaire en Mauritanie - Actualité - El Watan Algies have sent troops to Mauritania also; the arrest of some traffickers/kidnappers at El Hank last week (which the Malians loudly protested; why?) was supposedly a joint Alg-Polisario-Mauretanian operation. One wonders what the next step will be? Alg isn't forthcoming with info. According to some Malian source there was at least fifteen instructors including high ranking officers (two C130 aircraft would hold more than that), and they were headed for Tessalit. Kidal today: all the NGO and public owned 4x4s have been stolen, now people are getting robbed of their personal vehicles. One bloke was shot dead outside his home when someone wanted his Jakarta; this lead to public outcry. Cuban doctors have left, fearing for their security. Insécurité à Kidal : LES TRAVAILLEURS PROTESTENT Les forums de Kidal.info || Kidal.info One problem is that a number of elected officials in the region are on the want list of the Alg DRS - or so rumours have it. |
New algerian policy towards its neighbours esp Morocco triggered by events in Libya and then the Rabouni kidnappings
Morocco to join Sahel meetings (Magharebia.com) Islamists are not very successful in the Sahel, as a survey among 48 muslim countries shows that the most positive opinion of the West is found in Senegal, Mali and Mauretania - over 80% approval http://magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xht.../20/feature-01 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...bb3a6ef85b.b21 http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/t...on-aqim-threat |
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Here's an excellent article on Al Jazeera's website that gives a good overview of the complex politics & events in the region.
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Ah,
new article from storyteller Jeremy Keenan. Regards Ulrich |
Finally someone taking Keenan down
http://tomathon.com/mphp/2012/01/dea...jeremy-keenan/ Mahgreb Intelligence offers some interesting free articles http://www.maghreb-intelligence.com/...icles-gratuits New splinter group means Aqim is falling apart http://magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xht...0/reportage-01 |
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Aqim in Kiffa?
Terror fears rock Mauritania town (Magharebia.com) |
AQIM suspect there are plans for a rescue attempt on the hostages and are giving warnings to UK, France, Netherlands and Sweden not to try anything.
The statement was emailed to AFP in Rabat and was publicized by the ANI news agency in Mauritania - an outlet AQIM has relied on before for statements. A few more details here: Qaeda warns against hostage rescue bid | News24 Its coming up to 500 days for taken in Arlit. Longest by far. |
Media keeps quoting there are a total of 12 hostages, by my count there are 13 (4 from Arlit, 2 Hombori, 3 Timbucktu, 3 from Tindouf, and the Italian woman taken in Algeria). What happened to her?
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and two from the north of nigeria, birnin kebbi.
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^ Exactly Gvdaa, I've searched alot for information on the Brit and Italian males taken from North Nigeria, not a mention anywhere.
Normal suspecions would lead us to think that they were taken by locals and sold on, but nobody has claimed responsibility. It was quite a few months ago now. So maybe nothing to do with AQIM at all, more likely local militants in North Nigeria? |
Mauretanians resent the kidnapping of a gendarm
Mauritania rallies behind kidnapped gendarme (Magharebia.com) After the Adel Bagrou kidnapping of a gendarm, Mauretania has established three security zones: -Selibaby-Koubenni in the SW -Oualata - Tichit in the SE -and one in the NE Mauritania takes fresh border control steps (Magharebia.com) Is Aqim falling apart? AQIM under siege (Magharebia.com) "Sahel-Saharan terror groups region are in real trouble. Their leaders are busy with internecine disputes, their resources are drying up and - in the wake of the Arab Spring - their violent methods are seen by citizens as less effective than peaceful struggle. ...the group's focus on abducting foreigners for money may be its undoing." |
Malian army deploys 200 vehicles and four aircraft to the north + personnel, 500 soldiers to Tin Zahouatine, tuaregs watching. Government in contact with the kidnappers.
Otages au Mali : l'armée renforcée dans le Nord, contacts avec les ravisseurs http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=50009 Aqim supply lines broken Algeria, Mauritania break up AQIM supply line (Magharebia.com) "The case began last month when Algerian authorities in Tamanrasset questioned four men about stealing cars from oil companies and other businesses in Illizi, Ouargla and Ghardaia and Tamanrasset. The suspects allegedly admitted to smuggling at least 16 automobiles to the northern Mali desert, Algerian daily El Khabar reported on December 31st. What makes the case different is that the four alleged car thieves were also charged with supporting terrorist groups." Article goes on suggesting a Toyota FJ55 is worth €40000 in T'tou which sounds a bit high IMO.... A look inside Aqim Mauritanian prisoner gives insights into the terror group. Aqim warning pdf Aqim warns the governments of Sweden, Holland, France and England from any rescue attempts. |
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