As the Biden administration surveys the litany of foreign policy challenges that exist—Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea, to name a few—counterterrorism in sub-Saharan Africa likely falls outside of its top priorities. Throughout the Trump administration, there were high-level discussions on troop redeployments and how best to transition away from …
Read More »Russia Is Getting More Than It Bargained For in Libya and Syria
Is Russia’s lucky streak in Syria and Libya finally running out? The Kremlin has gambled big on proxy warfare in both countries, deploying thousands of private military contractors with the so-called Wagner Group to back its favorite strongmen. But after a recent run of misfortunes for Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, …
Read More »How to Manage the Threat of an Expanding Islamic State in Africa
Every expert on transnational jihadism knew that eradicating the Islamic State’s self-declared “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq would not lead to the end of this brutal, malignant movement. Since it had become as much an ideology and a brand as an actual organization, holding physical territory and establishing a proto-state …
Read More »Libya: Amid Hope for Peace, Regional Rifts Still Pose Hurdles
2021 is meant to be Libya’s transitional year. The new interim government faces huge tasks. Libyans and the United Nations advanced their current effort to end almost a decade of instability and war this month when a U.N.-backed forum nominated an interim government to prepare nationwide elections by the end …
Read More »Pentagon top brass gear up for US future strategies in the region
Delegations to Tunisia, Egypt and Oman explore AFRICOM and CENTCOM roles in their areas of operations. Senior US military officials are visiting countries in North Africa and the Gulf region to update their take on realities on the ground and help shape President Joe Biden’s vision for promoting US interests …
Read More »Egypt boosts ties with Burundi — with eye on Turkey
Egypt seeks to strengthen its ties with Burundi and the Nile Basin countries in a bid to curb Turkey’s expansion in East Africa, to protect its national security from any threats. As a foreign policy priority for Cairo, Egypt seeks to strengthen its ties with Burundi and the Nile Basin …
Read More »US generals head to Tunisia ahead of major military exercise
The Pentagon aims to bolster partnerships in North Africa with the African Lion exercise this summer. Two senior United States Army commanders will arrive in Tunisia on Wednesday to meet with local officials ahead of a planned multinational military exercise in North Africa. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the commander of all …
Read More »Russia’s Naval Base in Sudan Opens a Long-Sought Gateway to the Red Sea
Following Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s approval last month of a new naval base to be built on Sudan’s Red Sea coast, official Kremlin statements have billed the facility as a logistics center that will be defensive in nature—for principal use as a resupply station for Russian warships. In spite …
Read More »The U.S. Can Still Promote Democracy in Africa
America’s democracy, once seen as a shining light and inspiration to democrats across the world, was pushed to the brink by Donald Trump’s presidency. In the aftermath of last month’s storming of the Capitol by right-wing extremists, some commentators declared that the United States’ own troubles mean it must now …
Read More »Libyan interior minister says he survived assassination attempt
The security force involved in Fathi Bashagha’s motorcade collision dispute the claim, saying the interior minister’s men fired on them. Fathi Bashagha, interior minister for eastern Libya’s United Nations-recognized government, allegedly survived an assassination attempt on Thursday, sources in his office told multiple news outlets. Bashagha’s motorcade reportedly came under …
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