Africa

The meeting between the Saudi and Syrian intelligence chiefs is a further step to reintegrate Syria’s role in the Arab League — which is opposed by the United States. Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief Gen. Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan met Nov. 13 with his Syrian counterpart Hussam Luka in Cairo, …

A delegation of the Russian General Staff visited Tripoli on Nov. 10. The Russian military was received by the chief of staff of the Libyan army controlled by the Presidential Council, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad, and other leaders of the armed forces operating in western Libya. Col. Gen. Alexei Kim, …

Somalia this week elected two Members of the Lower House of Parliament in polls delayed by a year, mainly by political infighting. That means it still has to elect 273 more seats by 24 December, and those elected MPs must in turn vote for a president for the ‘democratic’ transfer …

As a new election law fueled tensions between Libyan warring actors, Turkey might push for the postponement of the elections if the Libyan prime minister’s candidacy is rejected. As controversy over the upcoming Libyan elections threatens to rekindle clashes between warring factions, the strategy Turkey will follow in the run-up …

Egypt used intelligence provided to it by the French military to target and kill its own civilians suspected of smuggling contraband. In leaked documents, the French military was implicated in at least 19 airstrikes carried out by the Egyptian military against its own civilians between 2016 and 2018, according to …

The civil war further threatens Ethiopia as Tigray forces threaten to advance toward Abbis Ababa. Egypt, as well as the entire international community, is in a state of anticipation after the regional and ethnic conflict in Ethiopia further escalated as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) continues to take over …

During his first official visit to Moscow under the military rule in Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, held extensive discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The discussions on November focussed on increasing bilateral cooperation in economic sectors. But particularly significant was Russia’s military …

Nearly three weeks after a coup that dissolved a tenuous transitional government, protesters in Sudan remain defiant. On Saturday, five protestors were killed and dozens were injured in pro-democracy demonstrations, as security forces deployed tear gas and gunfire to disperse the crowds. When protestors began to form in all of …

The trial of former Ansar al-Din member, Ahmed al-Faqi, was the most prominent case of a militant tried for war crimes stemming from the 2012-2013 conflict in Mali, but such trials have not continued since 2017. Ansar al-Din’s successor coalition group, Group for Supporters of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), and …

The African Union Mission in Somalia’s UN mandate is nearing its end. Despite the mission’s mixed record, its withdrawal could allow Islamist Al-Shabaab insurgents to take over the country. A mandate extension would allow Somalia, donors and partners to agree on a reconfiguration and funding. What’s new? The UN mandate …