UN Security Council hears of persistent and evolving Da’esh threat

The terrorist group Da’esh, also known as ISIL, remains a serious global security threat despite years of sustained efforts to dismantle its operations, UN counter-terrorism officials warned during a Security Council meeting on Monday. The discussion focused on the 20th Read More …

Ukraine Accused of Training Tuareg Separatists to Destabilize Mali

In January 2024, the Ukrainian organization “Come Back Alive,” through its embassy in Mauritania, recruited representatives from Azawad, who then underwent training in Ukraine. This revelation highlights a concerning cooperation between Ukraine and Tuareg separatist groups, further exacerbating tensions in Read More …

Getting to Completion: Funding Mine and Cluster Munition Clearance in Lebanon, Mauritania and Zimbabwe

A survey of clearance operators and national authorities provides insight into how close three countries are to removing all anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions. This policy brief summarises data collected for Lebanon, Mauritania and Zimbabwe on budgets for clearing anti-personnel Read More …

Trafficking in the Sahel: Guns, gas, and gold

In the first of a series of features exploring the fight against trafficking in the Sahel, UN News takes a closer look at what’s behind the growth of the phenomenon. A tangled trafficking web has been woven across the Sahel, Read More …

Sahel Conflict Set to Worsen in 2022 – Analysts

Islamist militant attacks increased this past year in the Sahel region, leading to political instability that saw a coup in Mali, an attempted coup in Niger, and calls for Burkina Faso’s president to resign. Burkina Faso experienced the deadliest terrorist Read More …

NATO strengthens its partnership with Mauritania

NATO and Mauritania are further developing their long-standing partnership, by widening the scope of their political dialogue and practical cooperation. NATO civil and military officials have just completed a trip to Mauritania, where they discussed opportunities for potential additional advice, Read More …

UAE begins first flights to support counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel

The UAE has launched “logistical support flights” as part of French-led counter-terror operations in the African Sahel. The first flight took off from Abu Dhabi watched by Maj. Gen. Saleh Mohammed Al-Ameri, commander of joint operations at the Ministry of Read More …

Terrorists Capitalize on COVID-19 to Erode State Authority, Attack National, International Forces in Sahel, Peacekeeping Chief Tells Security Council

African Members Emphasize Urgent Need to Boost Operational Capacity of G5 Sahel Joint Force, Humanitarian Relief for Displaced COVID-19 has added a layer of complexity to the highly volatile security situation in the Sahel, with terrorists capitalizing on the pandemic Read More …

ISIS in Africa: The End of the “Sahel Exception”

This article will analyze two exceptions. The first is the long absence of confrontation between al Qaeda and Islamic state offshoots in the Sahel area. The second is an elected official conducting negotiations with an al Qaeda offshoot. Both constitute Read More …