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Africa North

Scandal in Benghazi: Marshal Haftar expels European ministers from Libya

2025-07-12

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Leonid Tsukanov

[REGNUM] A delegation of EU ministers led by European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner recently arrived at Libya's Benghazi airport to discuss the fight against illegal migration with local officials.

However, upon arrival, the European guests were suddenly declared persona non grata and banned from entering.

How interesting.

Moreover, this was done not by the central government in Tripoli, but by the “alternative cabinet” that controls the east of the country.

The central government in Tripoli controls about the central business district in Tripoli, as I recall — we haven’t been playing close attention to them as not much has been happening there.

The diplomatic row seems to herald a quick end to Brussels' balancing act between the two centers of power in Libya. However, Europe is in no hurry to make the first move, rightly fearing that it will only make things worse.

TWO HEADS
Dual power in Libya is not a new phenomenon. After the overthrow of the country's leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country plunged into a protracted civil war from which it has not been able to emerge to this day.

By the mid-2010s, two centers of power had emerged in Libya.

One is in the capital Tripoli, which claims to be legitimate and enjoys the support of the UN, Turkey and a number of Western countries. It is led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

The other is in Tobruk, in the east of the country, challenging the legitimacy of Tripoli and relying on the support of some of its European neighbors (such as Italy and Spain) and Egypt. Its face is the commander of the local armed forces, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar
...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly...
The governments of Tripoli and Tobruk exist side by side, periodically engaging in armed clashes. At the same time, they appoint their ministers and conclude international agreements on the development of mineral resources and the delimitation of territorial waters (often mutually exclusive or contradictory).

The attempts of the world community to weld the East and West into a single “transitional cabinet” have led to nothing – their views on the future of the country are too different.

However, the European Union, as one of Libya's major neighbours, has to find ways to coexist with the divided country, responding to the threats it poses as best it can.

A SORE POINT
Thousands of residents of Africa and the Middle East flee to the Old World through the “Libyan corridor” every year, hoping to receive refugee status in the EU or at least move to safer places.

Many of them die along the way, especially off the coast of Italy and Greece, where the currents are too strong. In the last six months alone, at least 700 cases of illegal migrants dying on the water have been recorded, about 60% of them in Italian territorial waters.

Rome and Brussels, still suffering from the consequences of the previous migration crisis of 2015, are trying to combat the influx of migrants, cut off illegal routes and centrally send captured illegal immigrants back to their historical homeland.

But they cannot defeat the attack without help from the other side, that is, from Libya. High-ranking European officials have to go there every now and then for consultations. Moreover, they have to interact with both Tripoli and Tobruk at the same time - observing the same politeness.

Eurosceptics, while seeing this behavior as “undermining the legitimacy” of the UN-endorsed government, turn a blind eye to the situation: Haftar’s forces control about 40% of Libya’s coastal area.

Some of the settlements in the east (for example, the village of Kurat Makrun near Benghazi) have repeatedly appeared in the testimonies of surviving illegals. And the timely closure of these channels would help strengthen trust in the alternative government and its leaders.

However, contrary to expectations, Europe's recent attempts to coordinate with Tobruk have ended in a major diplomatic scandal.

GOT CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE
As soon as the European officials led by Brunner arrived in Benghazi, they were immediately accused of "disregarding the sovereignty" of Libya and violating entry rules. On behalf of Haftar, the delegates were protested and informed of the need to immediately leave the country without the right to return.

The scandal is made even more acute by the fact that among the expelled European officials were representatives of countries with which the alternative government had fairly warm relations.

For example, Matteo Piantedosi, head of the Italian Interior Ministry, was sanctioned. During the period of the most intense rivalry between Tripoli and Tobruk, he (then still the head of the Interior Minister's administration) participated in the development of a number of peacekeeping initiatives. For example, in the involvement of Libyan tribal militias to stabilize the domestic political situation, prevent smuggling and illegal migration.

The "border initiative" of Piantedosi and his colleagues played into the hands of not only Tripoli, but also Tobruk, since the work of the border detachments, recruited from the Tubu and Tuaregs, was financed from the European pocket and excluded rebellion in the rear.

Greece was also a tactical ally of the Eastern forces for some time, trying to annoy Turkey with the help of Tobruk. Its Minister of the Interior was also labeled non grata, which enraged Athens. The country's authorities declared that they would not tolerate diplomatic manipulation and would demand explanations from the East.

THE ROOT OF THE SCANDAL
Probably the reason for such a cold reception of yesterday's friends lies in the decision of European officials to upset the established balance and hold consultations first in Tripoli, and only then with Tobruk.

Until now, EU delegates had always started negotiations with “non-state actors” in order to take their position into account in subsequent contacts with opponents and find a compromise.

Moreover, this time Tripoli clearly violated the status quo: Prime Minister Dbeibah announced the development of new mechanisms for regulating migration in Libya, which, among other things, would expand the powers of the Libyan coast guard and allow it to operate even in those waters that were formally controlled by the east.

Until recently, this approach seemed advantageous to the EU, as it would allow interaction with the Libyan coastguard on a one-stop-shop basis, via Tripoli, and would also take the burden off Tobruk.

Moreover, officials in the east regularly complained to Brussels about the lack of personnel and resources for continuous monitoring of the coast.

However, from Tobruk’s point of view, Dbeibah’s initiative created a threat of constant provocations from Tripoli for the alternative Libyan government, including attempts to accuse Haftar’s supporters of organizing “migrant routes” to the Old World.

Both Brussels and Tripoli are now somewhat confused by what happened in Benghazi. However, this is more likely the calm before the storm.

European sceptics are calling on EU leaders to cut ties with the alternative leadership and focus on interaction with Tripoli, including in the hope that Haftar, deprived of external support, will quickly back down.

On the other hand, such tactics are fraught with a new round of armed struggle between the east and west of Libya - and an attempt by Tobruk to gain legitimacy by force. Especially since one of the conditions for ending the previous clashes was precisely the obligation of external forces to communicate not only with Tripoli.

Moreover, the east of the country is well aware of the effectiveness of the “migration bogeyman” and in response to increased pressure they may open their coastline to “caravans to Europe.” Or at least create such a conviction in their opponents.

Greece was the first to come under attack, being the one most outraged by the diplomatic scandal: the very next day after the incident in Benghazi, local media began writing about blackmail by the Haftar government. Allegedly, Tobruk demanded several billion dollars from Athens, threatening to “flood” the country with illegals in case of refusal.

And although the claims of blackmail may turn out to be rumors sponsored by Haftar's opponents, Europe took this as a signal and is in no hurry to sever ties with eastern Libya.

Link

Africa North

Malian Army announced that a commander and his bodyguards from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) were killed in the northern Ménaka region

2025-06-30

[PUBLISH.TWITTER] ULULULULULULULU!!!!!

Local sources reported that the killed ISIS leader was Syria-born Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas (Ebou Dahdah), who played an active role in the September 11, 2001 attacks. https://t.co/Y9AI2nkJ8g
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 29, 2025

Parachuted in a Syrian CEO? And former Al Qaeda muckety-muck who was jailed in 2005 for leading al Qaeda in Spain? I’m impressed.
Update from DeepNewz at 2:20 p.m. EDT courtesy of Besoeker:

Mali’s armed forces, backed by Russia’s Africa Corps and the Tuareg-led Movement for the Salvation of Azawad, have killed Islamic State Sahel Province commander Abu Dahdah and six of his fighters during an operation in Chamane, about 38 kilometres north of Ménaka. Military statements said the raid took place on 28 June after intelligence indicated the militants planned to address local residents.

Abu Dahdah, a Moroccan national

…not the Syrian gent of the same name?

also identified as Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, was described as the group’s explosives expert and deputy to senior ISSP leader Abu Algabas. Local sources link him to a recent high-profile assault in Bani Bangou across the Niger border. He previously served prison time in Spain for his alleged role in al-Qaeda’s 9/11 plot, according to Africa Corps accounts.

So the same gentleman, just a different birthplace. Got it.

In a separate development the same day, the Malian military reported that Boubacar Ibrahim—widely known as Oubel—and ten of his fighters surrendered with their weapons in Lellehoye, Ansongo circle. The back-to-back blow underscores growing pressure on Islamic State affiliates operating in Mali’s northeast.

Link

Africa North

PMC Wagner announced the completion of its main mission in Mali

2025-06-07

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] PMC Wagner announced the completion of its main mission in Mali. Information about this appeared on June 6 in the Telegram channel "Wagner Unloading".

"We destroyed thousands of militants and their commanders who had been terrorizing the civilian population for years. We helped local patriots create a strong and disciplined army capable of defending their land," the publication says.

It is specified that the PMC operation lasted 3.5 years, its main goal was to return the regional capitals under the control of the legitimate authorities. Now the fighters are returning home.

Since late 2021, Russian instructors have replaced French troops and international peacekeepers in Mali to help local authorities fight militants who have threatened communities in the central and northern regions of the African country for more than a decade.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, from July 22 to 27, 2024, Wagner Group fighters and the Malian military fought fierce battles with militants near the settlement of Tin-Zoutine in the north of the country. The Russians and their Malian allies suffered losses after falling into an ambush set up by Tuareg separatists from the Coordination Movement of Azawad and the jihadist group Al-Qaeda in the Sahel (JNIM, a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation).

On July 28, the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces reported that the army was carrying out massive strikes on terrorist and smuggler concentration sites. Five terrorist targets were successfully destroyed by drones, the statement said.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Lessons of Syria: The Fall of Damascus as the Main Outcome of the Year in the Middle East

2024-12-29

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Kirill Semenov

[REGNUM] The fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the rise to power of the armed opposition has undoubtedly become the main sensation of the year, leaving many other significant episodes in its shadow. This event has already shaken the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), but it is likely that we are only hearing distant rumblings so far, and the main waves of this tsunami may follow later and spill out beyond the region.

The conquest of Damascus after a ten-day campaign by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied forces led by Ahmad al-Sharaa (as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani is now known by his real name) could lead to a new awakening of the Middle East. The "Arab winter" could be replaced by a new "Arab spring". But for now, the Russian Federation is concerned with more pressing issues.

TWO MAIN QUESTIONS FOR RUSSIA
The issue of the presence of foreign, primarily Russian-speaking, jihadists in Syria will obviously require prompt intervention from the new authorities.

Most of the violence and extrajudicial killings, including against members of minorities, which have already sparked mass protests among Alawites, are linked to them. The same applies to attacks on religious sites of Alawites and Christians.

Obviously, these people did not come to Syria to watch Jolani destroy their dream of “Sharia rule and the spread of jihad,” but instead to implement his “Ikhwan” project, based on the work of the “Muslim Brotherhood”.

However, there is already a well-trodden path for such jihadists.

Jolani "expelled" his most radical supporters from Idlib towards Ukraine back in 2022-23. This concerns, for example, part of the "Ajnad al-Kavkaz" and "Albanian Jamaat" groups, which joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

This summer, the Kiev regime already expressed its readiness to take the most radical jihadist groups into its fold. At that time, Jolani apparently had his own plans for them. But now, after the end of military operations, it is obviously more profitable for him to get rid of them as soon as possible rather than keep them, and they can go not only to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but also to Russia.

And this is one of the threats to Russia emanating from the “new Syria”.

The second factor that directly affects Moscow’s interests is the fate of Russian military bases.

As it became known after the direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the country's leadership has not yet made a final decision on them, if we are talking about the long term. However, at present and probably in the coming months, their functioning will continue.

The new Syrian authorities, at least at this stage, also do not object to the preservation of Russian military facilities. This, in particular, was stated by Jolani in an interview with a British media outlet.

At least at this stage — words to be concerned by.

According to him, Syria and Russia have long-standing strategic relations that cannot be broken off overnight in a hurry, so the new Syrian authorities are in no hurry to demand the withdrawal of Russian bases, as some wish or imagine. To a clarifying question from a journalist whether this means that the Russians, with the right approach, can stay, he answered that in principle, yes, they can stay.

However, it is obvious that under any scenario Russia will no longer be able to use its military facilities in Syria in the same way as before.

"Since the start of the Syrian campaign, Syria, as a zone within the interests of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, has been fully used by Moscow to demonstrate a threat on NATO's southern flank. Now, even if we manage to reach an agreement on bases with the new Syrian authorities, no general will risk deploying Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers or MiG-31 high-speed interceptors with long-range missiles, given that the planes could be fired upon, allegedly by accident, by "certain cells" with small arms from commanding heights," Anton Mardasov, an analyst in the field of Middle East security, told Regnum.

According to him, there remains the possibility of using bases in Syria as a logistics hub to support Russian operations in Africa.

At the same time, as Mardasov notes, it will be quite difficult for Russia to strengthen ties with current Damascus, given that Moscow’s opponents, such as Ukraine and Poland, are rushing to establish cooperation with it, not to mention Britain, France and the United States.

Moscow will most likely continue to expand its activity in regions with crisis situations. However, given the limitations of economic resources and the ability to project power through, for example, reliance on the Navy, it will be possible to fully move to this only with the solution of problems in Ukraine, which will be able to provide Russia with a positive result and add weight in the international arena.

At the same time, as the analyst emphasized, Sudan or Libya, even with successful agreements, are too temporary options for official facilities, given the specifics of power in these countries, and are unlikely to be able to replace Russian bases in Syria.

TRIANGLE RUSSIA, IRAN, TÜRKIYE
Another open question at the end of the year: was Iran really so weakened and frightened by Israel’s actions that it did not intervene in the final, fleeting phase of the Syrian conflict, or did Tehran have other, much more pragmatic motives for “giving up the game”?

A good question.

Perhaps the Iranian leadership has begun to rethink its role and real possibilities in Middle Eastern affairs. In the face of the threat of a social explosion due to the growth of internal contradictions, the baggage called the "Assad regime" has become an increasingly heavy burden for Iran.

On the horizon is January 20, 2025, and Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office, along with the tightening of sanctions pressure on the Islamic Republic and the closing of all loopholes for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to receive income from Iranian oil exports and the subsequent deprivation of the ability to finance the “Axis of Resistance.” This will lead to a sharp deterioration in the lives of most Iranians and an even greater increase in protest sentiment.

Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that Iran wants to open a new page in relations with the United States. Moving away from financing and supporting its proxies to solving exclusively internal pressing problems could allow, if not to reduce Washington's pressure, then to minimize the prospects for introducing new restrictions.

Deploying regular IRGC units and tens of thousands of Shiite militias to Syria to save Assad would be perceived by Israel and the US as a direct threat and would lead to their intervention in the conflict. And Iran does not need the inevitable new sanctions that would accompany it, given its already exorbitant costs.

Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that Tehran chose not to intervene in order not to worsen its own situation.

As Nikolai Sukhov, a leading research fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and a professor at the Institute of Oriental and African Studies at the Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg, told Regnum, “the loss of Syria as an ally weakens Iran’s strategic position, especially its ability to support Hezbollah, in connection with which Tehran may increase investments in proxy groups in Lebanon and Iraq to compensate for the loss of influence in Syria. Or, on the contrary, it may focus resources on mitigating internal economic and social problems, thereby reducing the pressure of the Axis of Resistance on Israel and the United States.”

According to the orientalist, increased pressure from Israel and the US “is forcing Iran to adapt its foreign policy, and the scenario its leadership will choose will be shown in the near future.”

Good.

In this context, it is important for Moscow to understand whether Tehran is aiming to further expand its partnership with Russia, which should soon become “strategic” (tentatively, after February 2025, when the corresponding memorandum is planned to be signed). And whether Iran will abandon deepening ties with Russia in favor of normalizing relations with the United States and the West.

The Great Satan? Not likely, so long as the Mad Mullahs are in charge.

Events in Syria have shown that such a scenario is quite realistic.

In turn, Iran itself is showing similar concerns.

Tehran is concerned about the prospect of a quick end to the NWO and a deal between Moscow and Washington in which the Islamic Republic could become a bargaining chip.

The fall of the Assad regime has already generated a certain amount of mistrust on this issue. In Iran, there are behind-the-scenes opinions that Turkey and Russia could have agreed behind Tehran's back on the fate of the former Syrian regime.

"Iran, of course, is also offended by Ankara, but, in fact, only because it itself missed the opportunity to save the regime that it subsidized for so many years. In the new reality, Tehran will one way or another face a serious revision of its "Axis of Resistance", the capabilities of which have changed significantly. And in this regard, expanding ties with Turkey may be a completely viable option, especially since, contrary to idle talk, Turkish actions in the South Caucasus after the end of the Karabakh story are not as dangerous for Iran as Iranian ones are for the Turks," says Mardasov.

One way or another, Assad’s fall had a negative impact on the background of both Iranian-Turkish and Russian-Iranian interactions.

Although, indeed, if we talk about relations between Moscow and Ankara, there is now one less conflict point in Russian-Turkish relations, even though in Russia itself Turkey’s actions in supporting the armed opposition can be seen as another stab in the back.

Türkiye is trying to try on the laurel crown of the winner in the Syrian war, but it will itself face many new challenges.

Good.

It is obvious that Ankara will help Syria to carry out reforms, including constitutional and military ones, including the creation of a new army.

I must have missed a step. How is it obvious?

Turkey emphasizes the need to take into account the rights of all religious and ethnic minorities. Also, the new Syrian authorities will receive support in the fight against terrorism, hoping first of all to solve the problem of Kurdish groups from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The United States generally welcomes Turkey's increased role in Syrian affairs and is likely to be willing to compromise its support for the SDF. The same applies to its position on protecting ethnic and religious minorities. Now this is also a headache for Turkey.

Washington does not understand the true nature of HTS and does not trust Jolani, so they want to shift all responsibility to Turkey. And Washington will redirect the claims for failures both in the fight against ISIS terrorism and for violence against minorities to Ankara.

There is another weak link in Turkey’s consolidation of its role in Syria: it cannot fully control Jolani, who has always been inclined to play his own game and “screw” his former patrons. In Idlib, the Turks had much more leverage over HTS than they do now.

SYRIA AND THE NEW "ARAB SPRING"
The fall of the Assad regime demonstrated that the Islamic factor in the Middle East continues to play a role and is capable of serving as a basis for consolidation.

If it takes the form of “moderate Islamism” instead of “Salafi jihadism,” it can be accepted by the wider Sunni society, not just its religious part. In this case, the majority refuses to support and defend with arms the rule of secular autocrats. As happened in Syria.

Therefore, political Islam was written off too early. In this regard, we can expect an awakening of Islamic forces in other countries where the "Arab Spring" has passed into "autumn" and finally, it would seem, ended in a "long winter".

Moreover, in most countries affected by the events of the "Arab Spring", the reform processes have not been completed or, more precisely, have not even begun. And all those factors that forced the people to take to the streets in 2011 demanding the departure of the previous governments are still relevant.

The main lesson from the events in Syria is that all attempts to preserve the situation in one country or another and to do without deep transformations, even in the event of a military victory by one of the parties in an internal conflict, promise only a new collapse, social explosion or revolution.

In Syria, the Assad regime refused to engage in substantive dialogue with the opposition, labeling all of its opponents as terrorists, did not take into account the objective factors that caused the civil war in the country, and was intent on returning to the situation of 2011 without any significant changes to the state structure and the system of relations between the government and society.

The fall of the Assad regime also demonstrated that it is not enough to win the war to retain power; to do so, it is also necessary to win the peace.

It is necessary to carry out reforms, and not limit ourselves to demonstrative half-measures. It is necessary to conduct a dialogue with the real opposition, including the armed one, to be able to attract it to the side of the authorities, and not to replace the search for compromises with opponents by creating "tame oppositionists". It is also very important to be able to find the strength to share part of the power in time, so as not to lose everything.

Thus, according to Nikolai Sukhov, "the fall of the Assad regime and the rise to power of HTS underscore the importance of understanding the internal political dynamics and supporting local elites. Despite significant military and diplomatic assistance from Russia, Assad was unable to maintain control over the entire country in the long term. Russia must take into account that supporting authoritarian regimes without taking into account the interests of different ethnic and political groups, as well as without adequate and long-term, rather than one-time, intervention in the process of internal reconciliation, can lead to the collapse of the state."

In this regard, according to the orientalist, Russia’s intervention in the Syrian crisis, despite achieving short-term military goals, did not ensure long-term stability.

“In the future, Russia must be prepared to pay more attention to social, political and economic processes in the countries it supports, ensuring a comprehensive solution to problems, and not just military intervention,” Sukhov notes.

All the same problems that led to the fall of the Assad regime are, in one form or another, inherent in those states where it would seem that the "Arab Spring" was reversed. Be it Egypt or Tunisia. The only difference is the absence of an armed opposition.

But in addition to this, there is a threat of revolutionary changes in the states that are neighboring Syria and closely connected to it, which at the same time find themselves, to one degree or another, drawn into the conflict around Palestine, and the events in this country have a direct and negative impact on their internal political dynamics.

According to Sukhov, the threat of radicalization in Syria and instability in the south of that country will prompt Amman to strengthen security on its northern border, and “in Jordan’s domestic politics, one can predict the strengthening of the influence of local branches of the Muslim Brotherhood, up to and including an attempt at a coup and seizure of power by Islamists.”

According to the orientalist, this will also affect Lebanon.

"The loss of support for the Assad regime weakens Hezbollah, which has already changed the Lebanese political dynamics, and forces hostile to Hezbollah are trying to minimize its role in the country's economic and social life, thereby reducing the population's support for the military-political course of this organization. At the same time, the Lebanese economic crisis could be aggravated by new migration flows from Syria and an increased threat of local interfaith conflicts," Sukhov said.

SYRIAN LESSONS
Summing up the events in Syria, it is important for Russia to work on its mistakes in order to avoid them in Africa and other regions of its military presence.

During the Syrian campaign, its initial goals - the fight against ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists - were absolutely correct and understandable. But it soon became clear that the Russian Armed Forces in Syria would support Assad against all his opponents, including the moderate opposition, which, in order not to go beyond the initial objectives, was informally called "moderate terrorists."

This led to Assad, having achieved his goals in the civil war with the help of Russian weapons, becoming increasingly less receptive to signals from Moscow. The Russian side could not encourage the Syrian leadership to reform and properly influence decision-making. And most of the decisions made by Damascus were wrong.

Russia became the victor over ISIS in Syria, but it was unable to simultaneously become the country that put an end to the civil war, launched a full-fledged peace process, and began restoring the economy and returning refugees. To do this, it was necessary to act in defiance of Assad and force his regime to change, rather than follow his wishes.

Thus, by strengthening Assad and doing his job of clearing out any armed opposition, Moscow deprived itself of leverage over Damascus, which became less and less with each successful operation against the opposition.

Conversely, maintaining the situation of at least 2017, with a strong opposition and a process of reconciliation with Assad under Russian auspices, would strengthen Russia's position, turning it into a real guarantor of the implementation of agreements for both Assad and the opposition. And involving the opposition in the work of the government would allow it to begin to climb out of the quagmire of corruption into which the Syrian authorities have driven themselves.

Therefore, in Africa, we should also avoid Russia becoming simply a participant in a civil war instead of fighting terrorist groups, supporting one of the parties that has come to power in much the same way that the Tuaregs want to create their own state, in the same Mali.

In order to strengthen one's influence abroad, it is necessary to create a multi-layered presence, which should not be limited to supporting the government. And when destroying terrorists, it is necessary not to cleanse the armed opposition and rebels, but, on the contrary, to negotiate with them, turning them into one's own proxy forces and allies, and through them to influence the government, including introducing them into its composition.

Link

Africa North

Wagner commander Prikhodko killed in battle in Mali

2024-10-16

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The commander of the assault unit of the Wagner group, Mikhail Prikhodko, call sign Michael, died in Mali while carrying out a combat mission. This was reported on the evening of October 14 by the Telegram channel "Razgruzka Wagnera".

According to the channel, Prikhodko, at the head of a rapid response group, moved to help his fellow soldiers who were surrounded by terrorists and died in battle. Thanks in part to his actions, the group managed to break out of the encirclement, disperse and completely eliminate the militants.

"Despite the incessant fire of the enemy, Michael acted calmly and professionally, personally killing eight militants. Unfortunately, the wounds he received during the battle were incompatible with life," the statement said.

The channel's author notes that Prikhodko will be awarded the star of the Hero of the Wagner group.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, from July 22 to 27, Wagner Group fighters and Malian military personnel fought fierce battles with militants in the area of the settlement of Tin-Zoutine in the north of the country. The Russians and their Malian allies suffered losses after falling into an ambush set up by Tuareg separatists from the Coordination Movement of Azawad (CMA) and the jihadist group Al-Qaeda in the Sahel (JNIM, a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation). On October 9, the head of the Commonwealth of Officers for International Security (COIS) Alexander Ivanov reported that the bodies of the fallen fighters had been returned to their homeland.

Link

Africa North

New US strategy in Africa: why Ukraine's GUR is training terrorists

2024-10-15

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Victor Vasiliev

The GUR is training one set of terrorists for the same reason Russia is training a different set of terrorists: to be cannon fodder so their own people can do more productive things. And Russia is talking loudly about the GUR mote so people won’t notice the Russian log.

[REGNUM] In recent months, the flow of news from the African region of Sahel, directly concerning Russia and the Russian presence on the continent, continues to grow. And often it brings only negative things for us.

The current surge of attention to the region began with the events of July 27 in Mali, when dozens of Malian FAMA soldiers and Wagner fighters were ambushed and killed during the battle for Tinzauten. This was a heavy military and reputational loss. This was followed by a statement by the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine about helping the Tuaregs in this attack. The reaction of a number of African countries was harsh, including breaking off diplomatic relations with Ukraine.

Among the latest sharp statements, it is worth noting the speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali Abdoulaye Diop at the "Summit of the Future" within the framework of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. In his statement, the minister emphasized that the UN Security Council must "take responsibility" and respond to the "conscious choice" of Kiev.

"The Confederation of Sahel States, led by Mali, strongly condemns the Ukrainian government's open support for international terrorism, especially in the Sahel," he said.

At the same time, leading French media do not hesitate to provide support and express sympathy for the separatists, and also directly testify to the connections of Tuareg separatists with Ukraine.

DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, COMMON PROBLEMS
Before attempting to analyze the current flow of events and make a forecast for the prospects for their development, it is necessary to make several reservations.

Firstly, if we discuss current processes even strictly in the context of security issues, we will have to go far beyond the Sahel region states. Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad are usually considered to be part of this region. But de facto, this is already an interregional story.

According to the geographical, geo-economic and even, if you like, geopolitical division, these countries belong to different subregions of Africa - Western, Central and Northern. However, common problems of a trans-border nature, connected primarily with separatism and Islamic radicalism, unite these countries into one region.

These problems are caused, among other things, by differences in landscapes and differences in the way of life of the ethnic groups inhabiting the countries.

Along the perimeter of this entire region, with completely different political, geographical and historical initial data, almost all neighboring countries are forced to come into contact with the same problems to one degree or another. From Morocco, Algeria, Libya to Sudan, South Sudan, DR Congo, CAR, Nigeria, Cameroon, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Guinea and others. Perhaps with the exception of Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.

Secondly, it is necessary to recognize and record the global nature of the confrontation with Ukraine. This instrument, if it remains in the hands of Western opponents, will always be used against Russia.

Today, the Kiev regime has fully expressed solidarity with the Tuaregs from the unrecognized entity of "Azawad." Tomorrow, it could be the separatist "March 23 Movement" in the east of the Republic of Congo. Yesterday and the day before, it was expressed in support for the Ichkerian separatist terrorists who suffered a complete defeat in Russia in the 2000s.

The confrontation in the modern world has acquired a global character, and Kyiv, as the stakes are rising, has received funds to implement a variety of "wants" in Africa - if only to spite Russia. This includes the supply of weapons to African actors under criminal and gray schemes, and the opening of a whole network of new embassies in African countries, and the training of Tuareg separatists in military technologies using UAVs.

Thirdly, it is impossible not to acknowledge that behind all current global events there is a very public and very precise planning of destructive processes on the part of the main player in the West African region – the USA.

NEW US STRATEGY
All the problems of the recently formed "Confederation of Sahel States" have been predicted in one way or another, and in some places even artificially constructed by the United States. It does not matter whether it is by the hands of Ukraine or terrorist organizations such as the "Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM)" and others.

Back in January, The Wall Street Journal published a very remarkable article acknowledging the problems and tactical defeat of the United States in the Sahel and simultaneously outlining the contours of a new strategy in West Africa.

If we are to believe the publication of a publication known for its inside information from Western intelligence agencies, the world's first army, whose technological power allowed it to literally wipe out more than one of the strongest regional powers, is retreating before the threat of African jihadists in slippers.

Yes, the growth of Islamist sentiments in Africa is a real fact, and it is fueled by objective problems - an explosive growth in the birth rate, underdeveloped infrastructure, the raw materials nature of the economy, etc. But for the States to simply admit their impotence in the face of several thousand poorly trained natives - sounds ridiculous.

In reality, the US withdrawal from the Sahel is, of course, due to the miscalculations of American analysts, who placed their bets on Niger's army special forces and failed to notice the growing role and popularity of Russia in the region, as well as pan-African ideas in general.

Last July, a coup took place in Niamey, and French and American troops were expelled from the country. The foreign policy of the new military government of General Abdourahmane Chiani is firmly oriented towards Russia. This was a grave disappointment to the Americans in their own abilities in Africa.

"Niger has been the linchpin of this approach. The U.S. has built a $110 million base in Agadez and stationed about 1,100 troops in the country," The Wall Street Journal writes.

The ultra-modern base in Agadez has effectively been closed down, and aid to the Niger military has been stopped. Among the new potential allies (and military bases as a consequence) are Benin, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. In Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, American air bases for UAVs have already been launched, and instructors are present. In Ghana, a similar base has been operating for a long time.

The new strategy is military cooperation and the deployment of bases in several coastal countries of West Africa at once. In this way, the US blocks the growth of influence of Russia and other competitors in the region. No access to the sea - no logistics, no logistics - no influence.

Those same jihadists, before whom the American military suddenly retreated, have indeed gained great strength over the past six months. Including through mastering modern methods of armed confrontation using UAVs, which they learned with the help of Ukrainian military specialists.

Sahel is left alone with its problems and with Russia. The Confederation of Sahel States, which is now the focus of attention of all African countries, and especially neighboring Chad, is first and foremost a pro-Russian geopolitical project in Africa.

And any military failure or defeat of the Confederation countries is automatically projected onto Russia and all Russian projects on the continent.

WAR WITH THE TUAREGS
The main role in destabilizing the situation in retaliation against Russia and the Confederation allied with Moscow is assigned to the Tuaregs. The main blow is aimed at Mali, since it is a kind of key to the entire region. Bamako is behind the formation of the Confederation of Sahel States, and the very possibility of its emergence. As well as behind the manifestation of pan-African and pro-Russian political forces and their rise to power. The leader of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, is the president of the Confederation of Sahel and sets the tone in the unification processes of the three states.

The main problem of the state of Mali since gaining independence is the separatism of the peoples inhabiting the north-east of the country - up to 40% of its territory. First of all, we are talking about the Tuaregs. Today they are sufficiently organized in the ideological, military and political sense to be a full-fledged alternative to the current authorities.

Their unrecognized state formation of Azawad itself was made possible by direct political and military support from Paris and Algeria since 2014. Therefore, there is nothing unexpected in the appearance of Tuareg leaders in the leading media of France.

For example, just recently, Attaye Ag Mohamed, who is responsible for external relations of the key Tuareg separatist organization, the Strategic Composition for the Defense of the People of Azawad (CSP-DPA), confirmed on France24 that he has ties with Ukraine.

"The connection was established recently and continues <…> We communicate with various Ukrainian departments and discuss not only issues of data exchange," he said. The Tuareg avoided the question of whether Kiev trains Azawad representatives to handle drones, saying that he " cannot provide details of relations with Ukraine."

The newspaper "Le Monde" was even more frank, citing its own sources in the Tuareg community. Since this summer, separatist fighters from the CSP-DPA group in Mali have been actively using UAVs to attack the regular army and the Russian armed contingent in the country.

Kyiv supplies the terrorists with drones, and a number of CSP-DPA members have been trained in Ukraine. This fact, which they tried to keep secret until recently, has now become a subject of their bragging.

Footage of drone attacks on military bases in northern Mali has been widely shared on social media, with supporters of the CSP-DPA praising the idea that the rebels finally have the capability to carry out airstrikes that could change the balance of power.

The first widespread use of CSP-DPA drones was recorded during the July battles for Tinsauten, a town in northern Mali, near the border with Algeria. In the same area, separatists, together with jihadists from JNIM (former Al Qaeda in West Africa*), carried out a brutal ambush on a convoy of Malian armed forces (FAMA), which was accompanied by Wagner fighters.

According to Le Monde, cooperation between Ukrainian special services and terrorist groups began in early 2024. The publication's sources confirm that at the beginning of the year, several CSP members traveled to Ukraine via Mauritania and Moldova to undergo training in the production and operation of drones.

And in March, Ukrainian instructors went to Mali to continue training militants on the ground, and are still there.

GOOD, BAD, UKRAINIANS
The French carefully constructed strategy of dividing the radicals into “good” separatists and “bad” jihadists is failing: it is quite difficult to distinguish one from the other. Yesterday’s enemies are now acting in concert. The coordination between separatist and jihadist groups is not hidden by anyone. Moreover, some of yesterday’s Tuareg leaders are now becoming jihadists.

Numerous jihadist attacks along the entire perimeter of the Sahel Confederation border add to the problem of separatism in northeastern Mali. Of particular note is the August attack on the airport and the gendarme school in Bamako. It occurred on the anniversary of the formation of the "Sahel Alliance", and dozens of cadets were killed.

Today, Tuareg leaders are fighting with weapons in hand against the legitimate authorities and do not deny their allied ties with the most odious jihadist organization in the region — JNIM. And in these conditions, their support by leading French media is in fact self-exposure. The picture is completed by the involvement of the Kyiv regime in supporting the "good" Tuaregs.

There is not even a step left, but only half a step, before the French admit their support for terrorism in Africa. And that means their entire strategy in the region since 2014 is a total lie to justify their own military and political presence.

France, with its extremely negative reputation in the Sahel, has no chance anymore. Many people understand this even in the “metropolis” itself – from the ultra-left to the ultra-right. With the exception of Emmanuel Macron.

It is obvious that France's goal today is to at least "annoy" the leaders of the Confederation of Sahel States, who dared to leave Paris's guardianship. There is no longer any talk of any positive agenda or prospects. And behind the facade of Paris' dirty and emotional game, Washington is the one who is getting the real profit, implementing a new strategy.

France, with its political and military provocations, will sooner or later leave the region, but the problems for the Confederation will not go away: the global interests of the United States on the Black Continent have not been cancelled.

The main question is whether Moscow will be able not only to ensure security in the region, but also to provide a project for positive economic and political development for the countries of the Confederation.

If so, Russia remains in the pool of such leading states as the US, China, India, Great Britain and France. If not, we will at least have to forget about many of our ambitions in Black Africa, and therefore abandon the long-term strategy of asymmetric responses to our Western opponents.

Link

Africa North

Bodies of Russian soldiers killed in Mali returned to their homeland

2024-10-10

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The bodies of Russians killed in a battle with Islamists in Mali in the summer have been returned to their homeland as a result of a military operation. This was reported on October 9 by the head of the Commonwealth of Officers for International Security (COIS) Alexander Ivanov.

He said that the operation was launched on the night of September 30 by representatives of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) and Russian allies. The fighters did their duty and returned the bodies of their comrades who died in July in an unequal battle with the Tuaregs.

“This was an important and responsible mission that absolutely had to be completed, and I am proud of my colleagues that they did [it],” Ivanov told TASS.

The dead soldiers will be buried with honors, he added.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, from July 22 to 27, Wagner PMC fighters and Malian military personnel fought fierce battles with militants in the area of the settlement of Tin-Zoutine in the north of the country. The Russians and their Malian allies suffered losses after falling into an ambush set up by Tuareg separatists from the Coordination Movement of Azawad (CMA) and the jihadist group Al-Qaeda in the Sahel (JNIM, a terrorist organization whose activities are banned in the Russian Federation).

Link

Africa North

New footage of the Azawad special military operation against Wagner forces in Mali from July

2024-08-18

New footage of the Azawad special military operation against Wagner forces in Mali from July. pic.twitter.com/xkmCRtRPNB
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) August 17, 2024

…that would be where the CSP-DPA — the latest coalition name of the Azawad (Tuareg) separatists — and the regional al-Qaeda in the Sahel group that in Arabic is called JNIM and in French is GSIM teamed up to beat the pants off those tough Wagner boys. Kiev apparently trained the Tuaregs…

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: August 15, 2024

2024-08-16

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:57 A Public Council will be created under the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, the negotiating group will be expanded, and special attention during the negotiations will be given, in particular, to women, the seriously ill and seriously wounded, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported.

22:20 Russians dropped two guided aerial bombs on civilian infrastructure in the Krasnopolskaya community of the Sumy district - one person was killed, two were wounded. The premises of a local enterprise were damaged, the prosecutor's office reported.

22:14 Zelensky submitted a bill to the Rada, according to which the military participating in the operation on the territory of the Russian Federation, in particular in the Kursk region, will receive all the payments and preferences that are provided for the front lines in Ukraine.

21:57 The Ukrainian Armed Forces tried to break through to the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation in the area of the Kolotilovka checkpoint, but they failed, The Washington Post writes, citing Ukrainian military personnel. "Unlike the Kursk region, the Russian Armed Forces in the Belgorod region were ready for the arrival of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The territory was fortified with dragon teeth and heavily mined. The Ukrainian Armed Forces almost immediately came under heavy attack from artillery, drones and airstrikes," the military said. According to them, the Ukrainian Armed Forces advanced about 10 km, capturing abandoned Russian positions, but the fighting was intense.

21:35 Russians shelled Verkhnekamenskoye in the Zvanovsky community of Donetsk Oblast, killing two people, OVA head Vadim Filashkin reported. Another person was killed in Nikolayevka in the Konstantinovsky community and three were wounded as a result of shelling of a gas station in Pokrovsky District.

21:16 Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kirill Budanov stated that during the exchange of prisoners of war, special attention will be paid to the return of soldiers from Azovstal; those who have been in captivity for a long time; the seriously wounded and seriously ill; women; civilians who have been in captivity for a long time.

In turn, the head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, stated that the Security Service employees are actively working to replenish the exchange fund by capturing Russian servicemen on the battlefield. In particular, during the battles in the Kursk region, the special forces of the SBU's TsSO "A" captured 102 Russian servicemen, including officers and representatives of the Akhmat unit. "We are already thinking about how to make the most of this in order to return our defenders home," the head of the SBU noted.

19:54 German Major General Christian Freiding, who heads the situation center for Ukraine at the German Defense Ministry, said after a visit to Ukraine that he "fully understands" Kiev's decision to launch an offensive in the Kursk region: "Wherever a military leader has the opportunity to take the initiative, he should use it. From my impressions and conversations, the Ukrainians understand very well what risks they are taking, but if this operation is successful, there could be significant momentum."

He estimates that Ukraine has deployed four brigades (4,000 to 6,000 men) for the offensive, with 2,000 to 4,000 troops supporting them from Ukrainian territory through logistics and air defense. "The depth of the captured territory is about 30 km, the width is about 65 km. We estimate the total territory where Ukrainian forces are operating - not controlling, but operating - at about 1,000 square kilometers. This is interesting because this is roughly the same territory that Ukrainian troops have lost to Russian forces since the beginning of the year," Freiding noted.

19:13 As a result of a Russian strike on the territory of a civilian enterprise in the village of Prikolotnoye in the Kupyansky district of the Kharkiv region, two people were killed and five were injured, the prosecutor's office reported. A fire broke out in a warehouse building with a total area of 800 square meters. The lyceum building was also damaged.

19:02 Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov ordered the creation of a coordinating council "to increase the effectiveness of troops to cover the state border in the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions." The council will, in particular, regulate the buildup of troops in the event of a border breach, and its key task is to provide the troops with weapons.

18:45 The Biden administration is "open" to sending long-range JASSM air-to-surface missiles to Ukraine, Politico reports. According to the newspaper, there are currently discussions regarding "sensitive technologies" associated with the missile, which has a 450 kg warhead and can strike at 370 km.

18:21 A Tu-22M3 bomber crashed during a scheduled flight in the Irkutsk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. The crew ejected, and the plane crashed in an uninhabited area. According to preliminary data, the cause of the accident was a "technical malfunction."

18:07 The United States will provide Ukraine with new aid packages in the coming days, White House National Security Advisor John Kirby said. He noted that the shortage of weapons and ammunition deprives the Ukrainian Armed Forces of the ability to conduct large-scale offensives for at least six months. In addition, according to Kirby, some types of ammunition requested by Ukraine are no longer produced in the United States, and the existing volumes are insufficient for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' medium-term goals.

17:43 The head of the Pokrovsk city administration in Donetsk Oblast, Sergei Dobryak, said that the Russian army had come "almost right up" to the city and called on residents to evacuate. "A little more than 10 km from the outskirts of the city," Dobryak said in a video address.

17:28 The situation in Donetsk has worsened amid the offensive in Kursk Oblast, Ivan Sekach, a spokesman for the 110th Mechanized Brigade, told Politico. According to him, the military now has "even less ammunition than before, and even more Russian pressure." As The Guardian notes, the Ukrainians are counting on the pressure in Kursk Oblast to lead to the withdrawal of some Russian troops from eastern Ukraine, but so far this has not happened.

17:07 Kyiv City State Administration recommends that schools organize the academic year in the capital "as much as possible in person." The administration noted that over the past two years, the capacity of shelters in general education institutions in the capital has increased by 67 thousand places.

16:42 Russians struck a civilian enterprise in the Kupyansk district of the Kharkiv region with KABs - according to preliminary data, two people were killed and one was wounded, said the head of the OVA Oleg Sinegubov.

16:30 Journalists from the Italian TV channel TG1 visited Russian Sudzha, which is under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and published a story from there. "We drove into Sudzha in the Kursk region during the Ukrainian army's offensive. Civilian houses are intact. The noise of drones can be heard," wrote journalist Stefania Batistini. The journalists showed damaged Ukrainian equipment near the border and talked to Russians in Sudzha. The girl said that Ukrainian soldiers treat them with respect.

16:26 Lukashenko called for peace talks to end the war in Ukraine: "Let's sit down at the negotiating table and end this brawl. Neither Ukrainians, nor Russians, nor Belarusians need it." In his opinion, the West "needs" the war: "I cannot cite these facts, they are absolutely closed, where do they speak openly - high-ranking people. Literally: let them beat each other - Ukrainians, Russians - let them all die in this cauldron."

Lukashenko also threatened a nuclear strike in the event of a violation of the Belarusian border: "We do not intend to use nuclear weapons until the enemy crosses the border of the Union State. Belarus will not have any red lines in the event of a border violation, the response will be immediate." According to him, more than 20 Belarusian brigades and battalion groups have already been identified, which will be deployed on the border with Ukraine to prevent a breakthrough.

16:23 Germany is planning to transfer a large package of military aid to Ukraine by December, which will include, in particular, two IRIS-M air defense missile systems batteries, two IRIS-T SLS air defense missile systems batteries, ten Gepard installations, about 30 Leopard 1A5 tanks, etc., the Bundeswehr reported.

16:18 Russians hit the village of Zolochiv in the Bogodukhov district of the Kharkiv region with two guided air bombs - six people were injured, including a 12-year-old child, the National Police reported. Administrative buildings, a kindergarten, shops, and more than 20 private houses were damaged.

16:11 Ukraine will probably evacuate Russian civilians from the Kursk region to Sumy, said Minister for Reintegration Irina Vereshchuk. According to her, the government, together with the military, is already working on a possible route for a humanitarian corridor for civilians. "As for a humanitarian corridor towards the Russian Federation: such a possibility exists, but subject to a corresponding official request from the Russian side. So far, such a request has not been received," she added.

15:50 The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to advance in the Kursk region and already control 82 settlements, Zelensky reported following the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters. According to Syrsky, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have advanced 35 km and control more than 1,150 sq. km of Russian territory. Syrsky also reported on the completion of the liberation of the city of Sudzha from Russian troops, and a Ukrainian military commandant's office is currently being created there. General Eduard Moskalov has been appointed head of the commandant's office. There is also a new replenishment of the exchange fund.

Also at the meeting of the Headquarters, the main directions of defense were discussed: "Toretsk, Pokrovsky and others. There are the most Russian assaults there now - and our maximum defensive attention. Priority deliveries are precisely there. Everything that is needed now."

In addition, a strategy for the return of Ukrainians from Russian captivity was presented, Zelensky said: "There are many delicate details. What concerns the formation of lists. What concerns work with partners. I instructed the Main Intelligence Directorate, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine to present to society the details that our people need to know about how we return prisoners. I also instructed to involve in this work public organizations of relatives of Ukrainian military and civilians who are currently in captivity."

15:32 Zelensky instructed the Verkhovna Rada to immediately resolve a number of issues:

Guarantee at the legislative level that Ukrainian military personnel who take part in the Kursk operation "and will take part in all our other actions on the territory of the aggressor state" must receive all payments and preferences provided for the front lines.

Legionnaires who defend Ukraine but do not yet have Ukrainian citizenship must obtain it. This also applies to their relatives.

To settle the issue of captured weapons that the Ukrainian Armed Forces obtain in battles.

Traitors who fled to Russia after February 24, collaborators and all criminals who went into the service of the Russian state must be stripped of any titles and awards in Ukraine.

"Of course, in addition to these decisions I have mentioned, there are some other, no less important legislative initiatives that strengthen our independence, in particular spiritual independence, as well as government work to implement them. All of this should be done really quickly," the president emphasized.

14:09 The Ministry of Strategic Industry, together with the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff, launched the Zalizny Polygon project - a free service provided by the state to manufacturers of weapons and military equipment for fast and affordable testing of samples at the design stage. The project provides access for Ukrainian manufacturers to the process of fast professional testing and trials, as well as product evaluation by a military research institute.

13:24 Sky News reports, citing sources, that Ukraine has deployed British Challenger 2 tanks in its offensive in the Kursk region. Meanwhile, The Times reports, citing its sources, that Britain is calling on its allies to allow Ukraine to carry out long-range strikes on Russian territory. London's official position has not changed - such strikes are prohibited. However, the publication writes that British ministers are holding closed talks with Western governments to grant Kiev the permission it has long been asking for.

13:01 Ukraine and Russia have begun negotiations on the exchange of prisoners captured in the Kursk region, the Financial Times reports. Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed that Kiev is already working on the exchange. Ukraine has not officially disclosed the exact number of captured Russians, but the FT writes that hundreds of soldiers are involved. The Independent, citing a source, reported that about 2,000 Russian soldiers were captured.

12:40 Russia attacked Ukrzaliznytsia's power grid in northern Ukraine this week. The attack damaged substations and temporarily cut off power to certain sections of the tracks, UZ reported. Ukrzaliznytsia is currently working on restoring the company's power grid on its own.

12:32 Russian troops have come 13 km to Pokrovsk, writes Bild military analyst Julian Repke. The journalist notes that this is now an important logistics point for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, from where the lifeline to Chasov Yar opens up, and other forward units are supplied. At the beginning of the year, Russian troops were 38 km from Pokrovsk. Now they have come 13 km to the city, having captured two more settlements - Zhelanne and Orlovka Vtoraya. The Russians are also already 6 km from Selidovo, the loss of which will pose a threat to the defense of Kurakhovo. In addition, there is a threat of semi-encirclement of the Ukrainian group in Ugledar.

12:04 Western media exaggerate the scale of the movement of Russian reserves to the Kursk region, said Dmitry Likhovy, spokesman for the Tavria group of forces. According to him, the media representatives "heard that there is a movement, but they mistakenly believe that there is a continuous flow, a major redeployment." "In fact, this is not the case. No significant changes in the size of the group have been identified. The quantitative composition as a whole does not change enough to talk about any changes or weakening in the nature of military operations," he noted.

Likhovy also reported that the enemy has become significantly more active on the left bank of the Kherson region: ten assaults were repelled here in one day.

11:20 The situation in the Belgorod region has been declared a federal emergency, the Russian Emergencies Ministry reported.

11:07 A company of Russian soldiers was captured in the Kursk region by soldiers of the SBU Special Operations Center "A", Ukrainian media write, citing sources in the special service. This is the largest capture of the enemy that was carried out at one time during the war: 102 Russian prisoners of war were captured.

The special forces captured and cleared out a branched concrete and well-fortified company stronghold on all sides - with underground communications and quarters for personnel, a canteen, an armory and even a bathhouse. The enemy was not going to surrender, there was enough food and ammunition, "but the successful actions of the SBU special forces adjusted the enemy's plans," the sources reported. Among the prisoners were soldiers of the 488th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces and the Akhmat unit.

10:50 The Wall Street Journal writes that Zelensky allegedly approved the plan to blow up the Nord Streams, but after the CIA's request, he ordered it to be stopped. He passed the order on to Zaluzhny, but he allegedly ignored the order, the publication claims. Zaluzhny himself denied this information.

According to the publication, the operation, which cost $300,000, involved civilians and military personnel, including former intelligence officer Roman Chervinsky, who commanded it. The explosion required six people, a yacht, and explosives.

10:08 A company of Russian soldiers surrendered in the Kursk region on Wednesday, August 14. As reported by the Ukrainian state project I Want to Live , more than a hundred Russians abandoned by their commanders surrendered. "They can be understood: it is difficult to conduct military operations when you are commanded by tyrants and embezzlers, and the flanks are "covered" by Kadyrov's bandits, who abandon everyone and everything, just to avoid being captured themselves. Well, and thanks to General Lapin, who is helping us successfully advance in the Kursk region, just as in 2022 in the Kharkiv region, for the defense of which he was responsible," the project said in a statement.

09:16 In the Kherson region, over the past day, as a result of Russian shelling, one person was killed, 13 were injured, including one child, reported the head of the OVA Oleksandr Prokudin. Critical infrastructure facilities, administrative buildings, 16 private houses, and a gas pipeline were damaged. The Kherson GVA added that as a result of damage to the gas pipeline in the Kherson region, part of the Naddnipryansky starostinsky district was left without gas supply.

08:49 In Donetsk region on August 14, as a result of Russian shelling, two people were killed - in Zarya and Maksimilianovka, reported the head of the OVA Vadim Filashkin.

08:27 Air defense destroyed all 29 Shahed-type attack UAVs at night - in Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Kherson, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Chernihiv and Kyiv regions, the Air Force reported. In addition, the enemy attacked with three Kh-59 guided air missiles at night.

07:32 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of August 15:

personnel - about 595,620 (+1220) people,

tanks - 8484 (+8),

combat armored vehicles - 16,426 (+24),

artillery systems - 16,868 (+47),

MLRS - 1154 (+3),

air defense systems - 922 (+1),

aircraft - 367 (+1),

helicopters - 328 (+0),

Operational-tactical level UAVs - 13,598 (+50),

cruise missiles - 2428 (+2),

ships/boats - 28 (+0),

submarines - 1 (+0),

automotive equipment and tank trucks - 22,775 (+65) units,

special equipment - 2813 (+0).

04:51 Malian Tuareg rebels say they have received no support from abroad during the defeat of the Wagner mercenaries. Asked whether Ukraine had provided financial or training support to the rebel movement, rebel alliance spokesman Elmaouloud Ramadan said: "No, we have not received any assistance from Ukraine."

00:23 The Belarusian Railway Workers' Community reports, citing sources, that due to the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive in the Kursk Region, trains from Belarus to the stations of the Oryol-Kursk branch of the Moscow Railway have stopped running. The telegram notifying about the impossibility of receiving trains has the mark "until cancellation".

In addition, a large number of "abandoned" trains have been accumulated at stations in the Smolensk region, which is caused by the large-scale transfer of Russian troops to the Kursk region and the redeployment of a significant portion of the fleet of freight locomotives for military transportation from the central part of the Russian Federation. At the same time, some sources report that the concentration of armed forces is being carried out "from virtually all regions, even from fairly remote or complicated regions with logistical difficulties."

Link

Africa North

Mali expels Swedish ambassador amid strained relations with the West

2024-08-11

[AfricaNews] Mali has ordered Sweden's ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours because of what it called a ''hostile'' statement by a Swedish minister, the government said on Friday.

Ambassador Kristina Kuhnel's expulsion comes after Mali on Monday announced it was severing diplomatic ties with Ukraine.

It accused a senior Ukrainian official of suggesting that Kyiv had provided help to Tuareg rebels who claimed to have killed dozens of mercenaries from Russia's Wagner group and Malian soldiers in July.

Ukraine has denied any involvement in the fighting in northern Mali.

Bamako's decision to cut ties with Kyiv prompted Sweden's minister for international development cooperation and trade, Johan Forssell, to say on Wednesday that the government had decided to phase out bilateral aid to Mali due to its ties to Moscow.

"You cannot support Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and at the same time receive several hundred million kronor each year in development aid," Forssell said on social media platform X.

In the past decade, Sweden has provided more than $330 million in assistance to the West African nation.

Relations between Mali and the West have frayed since a military junta seized power in 2020 and staged another coup the following year.

Mali and its neighbours, Niger and Burkina Faso

...The country in west Africa that they put where Upper Volta used to be. Its capital is Oogadooga, or something like that. Its president used to be Blaise Compaoré, who took office in 1987 and was chased out in 2014. Now it's the usual army officer type guy, Captain Ibrahim Traore, running things, who's just doing a bang-up job unless he's already been deposed...
, also led by juntas, have pivoted away from their traditional Western allies to form closer ties with Russia.

Link

Africa North

Ukraine denies involvement in Mali attack, says cutting ties 'short-sighted'

2024-08-07

Ukraine on Monday August 5 criticized Mali's decision to sever diplomatic ties, calling it short-sighted and hasty. Kyiv stated that no evidence had been provided to implicate Ukraine in the fighting that resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries last month.

The West African nation announced on Sunday it was immediately ending relations with Ukraine following comments from Ukraine's military spy agency regarding the late July clashes in northern Mali.

Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility for the incident, reporting they had killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers. This incident appears to be Wagner's most significant defeat since they began assisting Mali's military authorities against insurgent groups two years ago.

"It is regrettable that Mali decided to sever relations without thoroughly examining the facts and circumstances of the incident and without providing any evidence of Ukraine's involvement," the Ukrainian foreign ministry stated.

Following the clashes, Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's military spy agency, mentioned on television that Malian rebels had received the "necessary" information to carry out the attack.

Ukraine, which has been fending off Russian troops for over 29 months since Russia's full-scale invasion, did not confirm its involvement in the incident in its statement.

Mali expressed "deep shock" over the "subversive remarks," interpreting them as an admission of involvement. Mali condemned these actions as violations of its sovereignty and equated them to supporting international terrorism.

Over the weekend, Senegalese authorities summoned Ukraine’s ambassador, Yurii Pyvovarov, accusing him of supporting the attack in a since-deleted video posted on the Ukrainian embassy’s Facebook account.

The accusations against Kyiv come at a time of fraying relations between the West and coup-affected Sahel nations. Following military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in recent years, the juntas have expelled French and U.S forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance.

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Africa North

Budanov planned attack on Wagner Group in Mali since 2023

2024-08-07

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov planned to organize an attack on the Wagner group in Mali as early as 2023, The Times newspaper claims, citing alleged documents from the US National Security Agency.

At the end of July, the Wagner Group stated that from July 22 to 27, it had participated in violent clashes with militants in Mali near the city of Tinzaoutine and suffered losses among its fighters. The Senegalese publication Senenews wrote, citing sources, about the investigation by the authorities of Mali and Mauritania into the participation of Ukrainian instructors in training terrorists on Mauritanian soil.

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noted that the fact of the Kiev regime’s cooperation with terrorists is not surprising, since Kiev itself has repeatedly resorted to the use of terrorist methods.

"Kirill Budanov, the head of the GUR, had been planning an attack on the Wagner Group in Mali since last year, according to leaked documents from the US National Security Agency," the publication noted.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, after the fighting in the area of the city of Tinzautin, the Kyiv Post published a photo of Tuareg rebels with a Ukrainian flag, allegedly taken immediately after the attack on the Wagner group. However, a similar video was found on the X social network (former Twitter). It was posted on June 10. The footage shows the same people and in almost the same setting as in the photo of the Ukrainian publication.

On August 4, the Malian authorities made a clear decision to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine, arguing that the Kiev regime supports armed terrorists who are fighting government troops. The reason for this step was the statement by Andrey Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, about Ukraine's involvement "in the cowardly, treacherous and barbaric attack of terrorist armed groups" that led to the war.

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