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Islamist activity in the Sahara in relation to travel security
In this thread should only be written entries on the fight against al qaeda in the maghreb.
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It will be set up in Tam
4 Saharan countries set up joint military base - Africa - msnbc.com Quote:
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Algerian major counter-terrorism offensive
Alg army strikes.
Sahel-Sahara military leaders discuss joint security efforts (Magharebia.com) Quote:
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AlJazeera reporting YouTube - Sahara states counter al-Qaeda threat
Pst Chris/Richard - the YouTube tags doesn't seem to work?? |
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AQIM Four groups
In the Issikta article cited by Ulrich it is also mentioned that
"...one month after the announcement in Sirte, Libya, following a meeting which was attended by Algeria, Mali, Niger and Libya, setting up a joint force of 25,000 men, including 5,000 Malian Tuareg, charged with hunting down terrorists." The announced size of the force is impressive, and the integration of Malian touaregs seems a key factor to success. This is where the Mali government have repeatedly failed, integrating touaregs in the army and power structure in general. Which is of course also a failure of the touaregs. Takes two to tango. Now Malian touaregs will work out of Tam? Interesting. The ability to work across the borders should make a difference. The Issikta blog also reports that AQIM in the desert consists of around 470 individuals divided into three fractions, led by MBM, Abu Zeid and the latter's deputy Abu Zahia forming the third unit with around 20 people. Centered in the regions of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal respectively. This rhymes with what I have been told elsewhere and also read here before. Issikta also writes that Abu Zeid is weak and unable to perform many kidnappings, and that MBM is behind mosy of them, including the proposed one near Niger/Alg border Wednesday evening. However. Journal Tahalil like the other magazines/newspapers etc like El Watan or El Khabar rely on specific sources (often it seems only one or a few nameless individuals) leading to a dizzying multitude of accounts of what is really going on. In this article :::Journal Tahalil Hebdo::: concerning the kidnapping in Niger of one French and one Algerian, they suggest that there are four distinct groups within AQIM in the desert Al Ansar Tariq El Moulethemine El Vourghane Quote:
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The suicide bomber of the French embassy in Nouakchott 2009 is said to have belonged to El Vourghane. News from Algeria 2009 I'll post this now and add to or edit it later as I have time to read more, if you allow it. It would be interesting to have these four groups pinned to certain individuals and geographical areas. |
Recruitment video released Saturday by AQ Al-Andalus
24 minutes of islamist kitsch Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Operation Al-Damoos pls note -the website contains malware - according to AVG |
There has been an array of opinion on STF about the usefulness of the command centre in Tam. Here's my view.
For the counter-insurgency (COIN) to be successful, the command centre is vital. This is why. AQIM make excellent use of the borders in the Sahara (esp Mali, Niger, Alg) - making a hit in one country before crossing back to another. This seems to have been an explicit tactic of theirs. The borders may be imaginary on the ground but they are real politically. If the Algerians, for example, were to do a follow up/hot pursuit of the insrugents from southern Algeria into N Mali without getting permission from Mali first, it would amount to an invasion of Mali by Algeria and would spawn a diplomatic incident. But if the joint command centre is working properly, authority to do the hot pursuit can be obtained as quickly as it takes to radio a message to and from the centre. Default permission for various kinds of follow ups may even be established in principle, so that explicit permission is unnecessary. In that way the hot pursuit can continue seemlessly across borders in the region - just what is needed for the COIN ops to be successful. The Algerians have the kit to do hot pursuits. The Russian made Mi-24 chopper is perfect and Algeria has many. In the Sierra Leone civil war, just one of these machines held off a major rebel attack on the capital and saved hundred, maybe thousands of lives. There were no ground forces to help that day (the UN troups were too scared to come out of the bases). The pilot only returned to base once every warning light on the flight panels was glowing. These machines can handle a lot of grief. Added to the hot pursuit by chopper - it helps a lot to have stopper groups in place on the ground. The Malian military could be useful here. So the joint command centre doesn't have to do that much - it really just has to be in place to give permissions on the ops at the crucial times. Without a joint command centre, this really isn't possible. |
"In the same wake, Mali will increase its forces in 8000 elements, while Niger contributes with 5000 elements. They will be responsible for monitoring and border surveillance. For its part, Mauritania will raise its forces from 15 to 20,000 items. In addition, the office of security coordination between the armies of the Sahel countries, located in the wilaya of Tamanrasset has been promoted to an aerial command authority to issue orders and monitor military operations in case of emergency and transmit a request for emergency coverage."
"In this sense, the security services involved in the fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel region have established a list containing the names of most dangerous terrorists belonging to Al Qaeda in the Sahel-Saharan Africa. It consists of 37 wanted persons Les forums de Kidal.info || Kidal.info |
Maliweb Spyware Warning
Sorry, a little bit off topic, but the news website MALIWEB is a great website for us Sahara lovers, but you will most likely pick up a spyware file if you use this site. The file is called "Bloodhound" and is not considered a major threat, but somebody else talked about this on the Kidal Information forum. Just a warning if your computer isnt protected. Everytime I open the maliweb page I get a warning from Symantec that the site is trying to hack my PC.
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Troop levels under the command of the Tamanrasset HQ supposedly to reach 75.000 by 2012:
Sahara states to triple anti-Qaeda force:Algeria TV | News by Country | Reuters |
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enough is enough
next thing you're gonna give us Fox news? Why not cut this fundamentalist religious propaganda crap. Please:palm:
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Just reading the title, I jumped off my chair. I'm sincerely outraged by this post. And I should explain this in depth.
First, Al Qaeda does not refer to anything at all. There is no such a thing as an international Al Qaeda organisation. That is a pure political and mediatic construction. When a problem is a bit too subtle, it is quite a usual thing to make it simple, to an extent that would render it accessible to the majority. Doing so, truth does not become the major concern. Under the Bush administration, one of the ways of justifying military actions, was to bring fear (most governments have done that in the past: fear of the jews, the communists, the anarchists, the royalists, the republicans, the different, the capitalists, and so on...). This fear was based on potential danger, as regard to Irak, and on actual terrorist activities, as regard to Afghanistan. Wehther these were true allegations is not the point here. What counts, is the effect of fear on the population: peopole are ready to pay their security at the cost of their liberties. It worked in the past, it works in the present. Al Qaeda, in that sense, becomes a very convenient device or artefact, for it encompasses every single terrorist activity in the world, induced by some form of islamic justification (i don't want to make this post too long, but it is interesting to see how, after the 9/11, every fight for autonomy in the world has become a terrorist activity: kurdish in turkey, basques in france and spain, tchetchenes in russia, opponents in Iran, and so on and so on. In many cases, their were not considered as such before the 9/11). Second, a self-declared islamic fighter in Afghanistan and in mauritania will not be comparable in any kind of way. They do not have the same language, not the same culture, not the same concerns, not even the same Islam - and I mean that. And there is absolutely no reason why people pretending fighting for Islam in Algeria and Marocco would fight the same interests. The countries do not have the same history, do not give the same public place to religion, etc. Islam is not as homogeneous as we think, and their pseudo-fighters are not in any way linked in a way we are told by media. Finally, having that kind of post is just a reinforcement of amalgams, fears and, wost of all, ignorance. Ask many muslim what they think about islamic terrorists, they'll answer that there is no such a thing. A terrorist does not follow islam, and he should not be assiociated with it. I am quite astonished to have came across such a post on the hubb, otherwise a very well articulated and subtle forum, source of knowledge for travelers. I thought travelers, thanks to their traveling experience, had gain a sense of discernment, or a critical mind. Spreading knowledge is more than respectable, spreading ignorance claiming it is knowledge is a far too dangerous thing to be left unnoticed. |
Hi VinceK100-
thanks for spelling out your thoughts. I think you might have missed the complete title of the thread - it refers to Al Qaeda in the Maghreb - short for Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. This name was coined by the leaders of AQIM in January 2007. Unfortunately for desert travellers, AQIM are indeed very real and they pose the greatest threat to travel in the Sahara at the moment, largely through a series on kidnappings. They release all their correspondence about the kidnappings under the banner of AQIM. Recently there has been a Sahara-wide initiative to counter the groupings of AQIM who have settled down in NE Mali. Much of this thread is given over to news about which way this is going. This turns out to be important because it may mean that travellers suddenly find themselves amidst a war zone. Some of the postings are fairly neutral - or are meant to be (see mine for example). The thread was started by Ulrich who spent many months at the hands of the insurgents when he was kidnapped in the Sahara. So I think Ulirch might argue that these guys are real. |
I do not wish this thread to degenerate into ideological argument. The purpose of STF is largely to be kept up to date on issues as they relate to the Sahara. News of insurgencies and counter insurgency is therefore highly relevent to the region. STF has a good track record in being ahead of many official government travel warnings by virtue of the community that contributes here and their dilligence in spotting issues and, of course, most valuably, in reporting events as they appear on the ground. Please let's keep in that way.
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[quote=Richard Washington;286959 ] The purpose of STF is largely to be kept up to date on issues as they relate to the Sahara. News of insurgencies and counter insurgency is therefore highly relevent to the region. [quote]
Agreed. All posts in this thread are relavant to keep Sahara travellers aware of the current situation. Whether you believe that AQIM are a product of the Zionists, whether they're an artificial creation by the Americans to allow them to keep meddling in global affairs, or just a bunch of criminals controlling drug and smuggling routes through the Sahara..............these thoughts are irrelevant to this particular thread. What is relevant to this topic is to help keep us updated on what the current situation in the Sahara is. Clearly there is a threat to travellers, highlighted by the kidnapping of foreign nationals. |
It is my last post on this thread, because I do not want it to loose its informative value.
But I have to underline the fact that: 1- There is no ontological neither ideological reality in "al qaeda" 2- There are plenty of threads reagarding Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran (balouchistan) that fulfill the same purpose of this thread, ie informing travelers about the situation. None of them mentions Al Qaeda. 3- "Most sources of our mistakes come from language", said Montaigne. Using the expression "Al Qaeda" is giving the world an ideological interpretation, which neither helps travelers nor critical thinking. Nowhere I'm talking about americans, zionist or other interpretations. I just think that ethics, and language ethics, as well as intellectual honesty, do not have to stop in front of internet's doors. |
I think we all know and agree on where you're coming from Vince,
The renaming of the GSPC as AQIM shrewdly capitalized on what you have accurately described. But in the Sahara right now 'AQIM' is the actual banner under which most of the gangs, criminal, jihadist or whatever, describe themselves. Ch |
blowin' in the wind
The discourse on certain threads of STF in fact became ideological a looong time ago. At least since the first americanos invaded hotel Tizimizi in Gao, Mali in november 2003 and started spreading Al Qaida fiction across Sahara. It si basically a racist discourse. Now go ahead, let the Fox sing.
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Like it or not, they chose the moniker AQIM, noone else did it for them.
What I see on the forum is mostly an absence of ideologically tinted debate. An exception is when someone says they can't be AQ since AQ doesn't exist. I see them as common criminals, using the AQ banner as a disguise to somehow justify their dirty deeds, and also a tool for recruiting disenchanted young men. A few of them may be hardcore islamists. Being opportunistic bandits, they left Algeria for Mali since there was a void where they could roam freely (parallell to LRA in Uganda, who have been moving around Congo, CAR and now Darfur, wherever government control is weak. Their label is "christian" - big deal). Like in Asia, the victims of islamism are mostly muslims, and a few unlucky westerners. For Aqim those few are important as a major source of income. If as estimated there are only 470 members of AQIM in the desert, and there is widespread public resistence to them, one would think that 75,000 soldiers should be able to put enough pressure on them that they move elsewhere. If politics doesn't get in the way. Some more links Are they just a bunch of kids goofing around? An AQIM offshoot emerges, or maybe not - The Majlis From a touareg perspective (Ag Khelfa). Comment l’Algérie a exporté sa « sale guerre » au Mali : Algérie-Maroc How Algeria exported their dirty war to Mali. Makes a clear distinction between touaregs and berabiche support for Aqim. For him, Berabiche-Moors-Sahrawi are the same people - same language, same culture. The country of Moors, from Timbuktu to the Atlantic. Tells the story how mediation became too lucrative a business after 2003 to pass upon, both for mediators like colonel Lemana and their contacts in Bamako. For Lemana it ended badly Quote:
This article is widely cited on the internet. Suggesting that El Vourghane, consisting of moors, is the toughest and most expansive of the Aqim batallions. Pointing a finger at Polisario, and thus on Algeria as a provider of weapons and protection. That the infamous Boeing that was burnt near Gao had already dropped its load of cocaine in Mauritania. That drug-carrying aircraft have landed in the desert since year 2000. Quote:
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If you use Google Chrome, translation comes automatically if you want it. Just a tip. It would be interesting if Ulrich would participate in discussion and share his knowledge :) |
Interesting set of links, particularly about the 4 groups and the whole Berabiche-Moor-Saharawi [Reguibat] thing which rarely gets fully appreciated. In a blue cheche they can all appear the same to the clueless (see the colour 'Tuareg' pic in the current Morocco LP).
So the Tuareg guy suggests the ethnic Arabs are thick as thieves (as you'd expect, but not without justification given their legitimate business dominance in the area), while TMND scoffs at the idea. Ag K goes quite far out on a limb with GSPC/Alg govt links. Alg support Polisario in Tindouf, sure, but AFAIK only to poke the eye of the Moroccans over the WS war they lost. That Polisario are involved in traffic in the area is likely, though, but if Alg is up to half of what Ag K suggests then it's not US meddling we have to worry about and they are giving Ghadaffi a run for his money. I have to say I found TMND's analysis a little 'virtual', like a lot of these political blogs on a Sahel based out of DC or wherever. It got a bit wobbly for me describing the 'hellish' desert of the Tiris. Come July it's all hellish. Still, remind me to steer clear of El Vourghane next time I'm out there. Ch |
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Operation Flintlock 10 starts today
Les manœuvres militaires « Flintlock 10 » débutent lundi au Mali - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq Kidal MP warns of AQ; suggests development as cure Nord-Mali:Les députés alertent contre le recrutement des habitants par Al-Qaida - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq |
This has recently been posted on Kidal Info forum, but doesn't say from where.
EDIT: Just read this article: Extradition du Niger d’un activiste salafiste recherché en Mauritanie - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq "The Niger has extradited to Mauritania Mauritanian an alleged terrorist, against whom his country had launched an international arrest warrant. The dennomé Taghi Ould Youssef, was collected this morning by the Mauritanian police on the descent of the aircraft of the Royal Air Morocco. This is a good example for others and especially for Mali who starred recently by the release of suspected terrorists and cons warrants have been issued". |
New Border Control Posts To Open Algeria
Algerian Customs plans to launch 48 new border control and surveillance units, APS reported on Sunday (May 2nd).
Algeria to open new border control posts (Magharebia.com) |
And again!
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Perspective on Al Qaeda
Aqim hasn't been successful in recruiting in Morocco, which doesn't mean that there aren't militant islamists around. Some interesting links regarding Western Sahara and why we better hope for Morocco to gain full control - the alternative being a "failed state" like Somalia. Also why the ties between Aqim and Polisario are weak (even though several ex-Polisario officers have been arrested in Mauritania accused of participation in kidnapping the Spaniards).
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And it has finally become the right thing to denounce bin Laden, even earning him a Saudian fatwa. Here the former Libyan AQ leader. Former LIFG leader: Bin Laden lacks Islamic authority to wage 'Western Jihad' (Magharebia.com) |
A ban on imported Toyotas?!
Ennahar Online - Ban on import and marketing of « Toyota Station » vehicles |
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AFRICOM: Pre-Jump Training Prepares African Parachutists for Airborne Operations A U.S. Army jumpmaster gives instructions to paratroopers from Mali on proper slipping techniques to avoid other parachutists and adjust for wind conditions during a Basic Airborne Refresher class May 7 in Bamako, Mali as part of the Flintlock 10 exercise. Flintlock 10 is a special operations forces exercise focused on military interoperability and capacity-building and is part of an AFRICOM-sponsored annual exercise program with partner nations in Northern and Western Africa. The exercise, which includes participation of key European nations, is conducted by Special Operations Command Africa and designed to build relationships and develop capacity among security forces throughout the Trans-Saharan region of Africa. Approximately 1,200 European, African Partner Nation and U.S. participants from 14 nations are involved in military interoperability activities across the Trans-Saharan region during this event. U.S. Africa Command - Pre-Jump Training Prepares African Parachutists for Airborne Operations Ulrich |
Droukdal's last stand?
If we are to believe Ennahar, the end is near for the AQIM leadership (north branch).
Ennahar Online - Droukdal surrounded by special forces on the heights of Bejaia |
More Good News from North Algeria?
Abu Abdeldjebbar: "We expected death at any moment"
Abu Abdeldjebbar said that all the elements in the bush and forests have no more convictions of Jihad. They realized that it made no sense. Ennahar Online - Abu Abdeldjebbar: "We expected death at any moment" |
Are any westerners involved in the aid supply? Will be interesting to see if AQIM make a move on any of the convoys.
Braving bandits on the front-line of Niger’s food crisis Braving bandits on the front-line of Niger's food crisis - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq |
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Colonel Crytzer (L) of the US Army -one of the Commanders in charge of operation "Flintlock 10"- speaks during a press conference with Colonel Cisse (R) spokesman for Burkina Faso's Army in Ouagadougou on May 7, 2010. Military exercises bringing together armed forces from Africa and Europe under US supervision began in Burkina Faso on May 3, aimed at reinforcing the continent's fight against extremist groups. The nine African countries participating in the operation are besides Burkina Faso, Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Chad and Tunisia, with European contingents from Belgium, Spain, France, Britain and the Netherlands. Collapse (ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images) abcnews - Curbing the Al Qaeda Threat in Africa Ulrich |
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In the ongoing trials against Aqim members in Nouakchott, one Mauritanian was sentenced to eight years for involvement in the kidnapping of Austrians in Tunisia.
Mauritanian in Austrian kidnapping jailed, Mauritania Crime - Maktoob Business Also, this could become a problem - Aqim recruiting Polisario members http://www.jamestown.org/uploads/media/TM_008_30.pdf Quote:
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The Associated Press: Mauritania gives 3 death for French tourist murder
French tourist killers appeal: News24: Africa: News Middle East Online Quote:
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Ag Bahanga
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Maliweb reports that Ag Bahanga the touareg rebel leader has been wounded and captured http://www.maliweb.net/news_images/bahanga_capt2.jpg maliweb.net :: Bande frontaliére Mali-Algérie : Bahanga, entre la vie et la mort This has not been reported elsewhere and is met with general skepticism. Ag Bahanga has in the past retreated several times to Libya only to return with new attacks on Malian army bases, supposedly to arm his soldiers. He was portrayed in an article in April, where he claims to be anti-terrorism and could perhaps become a leader in the fight against Aqim. I think this article to some extent clarifies what is going on in the Mali desert....hope it isn't too virtual for ya. ;) Rebel Leader Turned Counter-Terrorist: Tuareg's Ag Bahanga - The Jamestown Foundation Quote:
Government Forces Overrun Tuareg Rebel Camps in Northern Mali - The Jamestown Foundation Quote:
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Algiers- Touati Othman, alias "Othman Abul Abbas", member of the Salafist group, who was also the mufti of the organization "Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat", has surrendered to security services in Boumerdes the end of last week
Ennahar Online - Capitulation of Aboul Abbas, Mufti of the Salafist Group |
The right arm goes Droukdel
He also mentioned the willingness of a large number of elements of the phalanx to go after pressure from security services and the loss of any popular support and the scarcity of new recruits. Abu El-Abbas revealed the day after his surrender "to the problems faced by armed groups in the bush", including difficulties related to living conditions following the terrorist search operations carried out by the PNA, but also the absence of a religious authority to legitimize suicide bombings, kidnappings and terrorist activity.
It seems that the pressures of former GSPC, scholars and theologians have messed some command of that terrorist organization primarily in terms of recruitment which has seen a sharp decline. The recent fatwas of the scholars and theologians who some challenged the "jihad" in Algeria and condemned the attacks by the GSPC and its Droukdel destabilized elements, as stated elsewhere Abu El-Abbas . Given this situation, Droukdel had already sent a message to the famous theologian, one of the leading ideologues and most esteemed in the world, the Mufti of Al-Qaeda known as the "spiritual father" of global jihad namely Mohamed Al Makdissi to legitimize its actions and provide support to the GSPC and legitimize suicide bombings, but he chose not to respond. He refuses to recognize Droukdel as a jihadist? Le bras droit de Droukdel se rend - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq |
More on the surrender of Abou El-Abbes
El-Abbes' surrender marks the latest in a series of defections from al-Qaeda. Another terrorist, Grig-Ahsine Abdelhalim, turned himself in the same day as El-Abbes. The Algiers native joined the GSPC in 1994 after escaping from Batna's Tazoult prison. Al-Qaeda leader El-Abbes surrenders in Algeria (Magharebia.com) |
More mixed intelligence and hear-say rumours. And some tuareg input.
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Terrorism issue in Sahel seems to hide other questions (interview with Alain Antil)
http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/index.php?news=9879 |
Algiers- A penitent who surrendered, a week ago, to the security forces after 17 years in underground terrorist groups in the forests of Tizi Ouzou, said he had decided to leave the armed activity after having realized that there was no reason to remain among these wild hordes.
Ennahar Online - A repentant recounts his 17 years of bush |
GSPC adopts new strategy for recruitment:
http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/index.php?news=9892 Algiers’ security forces have arrested one of the recruits operating in terrorist groups following intelligence collected by their services. http://www.echoroukonline.com/eng/index.php?news=9891 |
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A recent analysis
18 pages From GSPC to AQIM: The evolution of an Algerian islamist terrorist group into an Al-Qa‘ida Affiliate and its implications for the Sahara-Sahel region http://concernedafricascholars.org/d...in85harmon.pdf |
... and from the sam webside, more detailed, 92 pages
Concerned Africa Scholars - US militarization of the Sahara-Sahel: Security, Space & Imperialism - ca. 12 MB Don't forget: It's the USA-view. Ulrich |
Again in absentia!
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Now they are wondering in Algeria too where is El Para!
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From the Mauri desert. With slurs at Polisario.
France24 - Mauritania: fighting terrorism in the Sahel region |
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I think this is the more signifcant part. And perhaps the reason why Aqim are building air shelters
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Islamist militants build bunkers in Sahara - Politics of Israel - AOL Message Boards Quote:
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and L'Expression - 11 gardes-frontières assassinés Gogoonisch - E Ulrich |
A disastrous start to the border patrols, then.
It's the first time I've heard of such an attack on the southern border - up north in the Kabylie it used to be commonplace. A bit more on ennahar Ennahar Online - Eight gendarmes and three municipal guards killed in Tamanrasset looks like they took the guide hostage too. Ch |
Perhaps not disastrous, just part of an ongoing escalation.
This one slipped by and there are probably more incidents we don't hear about Latin American Herald Tribune - Body of Terrorist Linked to Spaniards Kidnapping Identified Quote:
This threat was also reported today The Associated Press: US warns of al-Qaida threat in Burkina Faso Quote:
Not a good time to be in the area and not good for the two Spaniards and the Frenchman. |
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Mali opens border to Algerian pursuit of al Qaeda | News by Country | Reuters Ulrich |
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Aqim gives Frenchman 15 days to live
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The raid on AQIM in NE Mali today by Mauri and French forces is an example of something that would have been impossible without the joint (Alg, Mauri, Niger, Mali) command HQ which was agreed back in April 2010.
Interesting that Mali doesn't seem to have been involved. Seems to me it was an unsuccessful attempt to free the French hostage. These must be tough times for the Spanish and French hostages alike. |
France and Mauritania attacks on Malian territory without notice? Using a Malian airport without their knowledge? And where does the Tam command centre come in? Is the French hostage alive?
Confusion reigns in the desert. |
From what little we know, I too fail to see any obvious link to Tam command. That was a coalition of African nations, no? If there is then they have failed to capitalise on it in a PR sense. Sounds more like the French teamed up with Mori to get a job done and used Mali's 'cross border' invitation/permission given a while back.
Makes sense not to get Mali army in on it, IMO. Good on them for trying, but you hope they have not jeopardised Germaneau's life, if it indeed was him they were trying to release and failed. Not all reports say this. Ch |
The Tam command centre is one thing. But the joint security agreement set up back in April is precisely what needed to be in place to allow Mauri to raid into Mali. Without that agreement, the raid would probably never have happened.
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This is a comment on the Algerian press article immediately above this post.
The basic line of argument in the article is that France should not be intervening in the Sahara and where they are seen to intervene, it is for geopolitical reasons - such as securing supply of raw materials like bauxite and uranium. I find this argument quite dated. Sure, Europe may be interested in raw materials, but the situation is not as simple as it was 100 years ago. For example, France has maintained a large and highly visible military presence in Chad but that did not stop Chad deciding against France as their partner in oil deals a couple of years ago. But notably, in the case of AQIM and the Sahara, if the Algerian journalist is moaning about French intervention, then that journalist also has to ask what, if anything, has been done to combat AQIM since they set up shop in the desert in 2003 - six or more years ago. Not much is the simple answer. If Mali and the rest of the countries concerned were to stand by and watch for another six or more years, then AQIM will have built quite an empire. So the question that the journalist should be asking is 'why did it take so long to have a go at these guys?'. |
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News from "bubble-talker" Jeremy Keenan
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If Algeria wants to take control over their territory - is that controversial? After Sudan is split up, Algeria will be the largest country in Africa, and 75000 troops doesn't sound like a lot. Keenan could rather ask why Mali doesn't try to take control over their part of the desert. The implications of that fact should worry Bamako, even more so after the UN verdict on Kosovo last week. |
The desert is abuzz with rumours about what happened, why it happened, and what will happen next.
Secret Défense: Sahel : une opération contre Al Qaida menée avec l'appui de la France (actualisé-2) Secret Défense: Mali : plus d'une vingtaine de militaires français ont participé �* l'opération antiterroriste Les forums de Kidal.info || Kidal.info |
Al-Qaeda in North Africa 'kills French hostage'
According to the BBC tonight.
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How could anyone on earth possibly justify the murder of this old man? :( :mad2:
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Direct link to the audio-statement from AQIM:
Multiupload.com - upload your files to multiple file hosting sites! - 7 MB Ulrich |
Sarkozy admits to failed raid and confirms death
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Hi all
Now that's the right moment for a large operation in the area. First: the return of the two spanish citizens, at any cost. Second:strong military operations to solve the problem for the next years. After the 11 gendarmes and the french citizen, the is the right moment for a wide operation (except the hot season...) By the way: what do you think, it's easier to find and defect them in summer or in winter? Cheers, Rui |
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Gogoonisch - E Quote:
Supposedly in the action were also killed nine French soldiers, an Islamist relevant forum said. Quote:
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Failed payment of ransom?
Also according to El Khabar
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Such difficult times and such a sad end for Mr Germaneau. I can't imagine what must be hapenning with the Spanish.
With 9 special force losses on the French side + Mr Germaneau + Mauritanian loses which don't seem to have been declared, it looks like AQIM came off best here. Looks like AQIM were expecting the attack. If the party came into Tessalit by plane, then the whole of NE Mali would have known something was about to happen. Choppers would have been more discreet. Edit...its been pointed out to me that the French special forces loses are not confirmed but instead derive from one source. Looks like the Mauri + French forces went in by vehicle, then on foot for the last 10 km or so. Other reports say 2 AQIM escaped. Must have hit the wrong base. |
Kouchner on tour
Mali wants co-ordinated effort against terrorism: Kouchner < French news | Expatica France ANALYSIS-Raid shows resolve, trouble in fight vs Sahara's Qaeda | News by Country | Reuters Quote:
Now is not the time for any westerner to be near the Mauri-Mali-Niger desert. More analysis from France - Mauri moving against Abu Zeid "Le raid contre Al Qaeda au Maghreb islamique est une premi�re" - L'EXPRESS Germenau executed for publicity and to please Bin Laden Le Figaro - International : �AQMI a besoin de publicit� That the Spaniards are being held by MBM and not Abu Zeid gives some hope Al Qaeda au Sahel d�tient aussi deux otages espagnols - L'EXPRESS |
... So why bristle...
If it's not strategic posturing then I suspect because they resent the French and want to control and dominate the situation (and can probably afford to do so because if not, Libya might) - or, as widely suggested is the case in Mali, some Alg elements may be involved in the game. Reading and discussing with others, one conclusion is that sadly, M. Germaneau died a few weeks ago, as some sources quietly suggest. (About the time of the 15-day deadline, in fact). The French sensed this (suddenly stalled negs, 'no proof of life') and so had nothing to lose by taking direct action (with Mori) and letting the GSPC claim their 'retaliation' after a 'botched rescue bid'. It may even indeed have been a pre-emptive land-based raid just over the Mori border in the Timbuktu region - as claimed - and not east of Tessalit as many of us assumed. Did Kidal forum report Tessalit hearing big jeep- and chopper-laden planes? Don't know, but there was also talk of a second 'distracting' op. Once it's all old news the precedent is set for future French-led ops, although the Spanish are rightly not pleased about it. Neither is Alg with its Tam CC, but the coalition of African nations has so far not been effective, as Wolfram Lacher suggests. We heard the same 'Alg aid to Mali' (the famous 'sleeping bags', etc) some 14 months ago in preparation for decisive action. Things merely got much worse. AFAICT all that's happened with Tam CC is that we're told 11 or so gendarmes in a new border patrol unit got wiped out two weeks ago near Tin Z. Must say I'm not so sure about that one. I also suspect the list of 9 DRSE casualties is merely jihadist propaganda (check out the sources by Googling the names). Otherwise GSPC would be crowing about it from the dune tops with mutilated pics of DRSE, not shots of dead muj brothers. If only for the people who live in the area, one can hope this might be the much anticipated beginning of the end of the GSPC in Mali at least, but it could all be too far gone. Ch All my speculation of course. Links and sources on my website |
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