Latest news with #al-Qaeda-affiliated

Mali's junta tightens grip after five years of military rule – DW – 06/17/2025

2 days ago

Politics
DW

Mali's junta tightens grip after five years of military rule – DW – 06/17/2025

When General Assimi Goita seized power in 2020, many hoped it would bring positive change to Mali, a country grappling with jihadist attacks and an economic crisis. What has actually happened in the past five years? In 2020 and 2021, General Assimi Goita siezed power of Mali, bringing the country under military rule. Elections scheduled for February 2024 were postponed due to "technical reasons," including issues related to the adoption of a new constitution and a review of electoral lists. A new date has not been announced. In June 2025, the National Transitional Council approved a bill granting Goita an additional five-year term, extending his presidency until at least 2030. Stalled fight against Islamist rebels One of the main justifications for the coup was to improve the nation's security amid a growing number of jihadist attacks. However, this plan has not worked, said Ahmed Ould Abdallah, president of the Sahel Sahara Center for Security Strategies. "Not only has terrorism not disappeared, it is actually increasing and becoming more intense. It no longer affects only the north and center of the country, but also the south toward Sikasso, and the Kayes region in the west," he told DW. In early June 2025, several Malian army positions were attacked by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known as JNIM. At least 30 people were killed in the attack on a camp. In September 2024, JNIM succeeded in attacking Bamako and occupied the airport for several hours. In July 2024, heavy fighting took place in the town of Tinzaouatene near the Algerian border. Tuareg separatists inflicted heavy losses on the Malian army and the Russian-backed Wagner Group. What's driving Russia's ambitious push into Africa? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Fousseyni Ouattara, vice president of the Defense and Security Commission of Mali's transitional parliament, the National Transitional Council, told DW he blames "invisible hands" for the recent attacks, without offering a specific explanation. He claims that Mali is in control of its territory. "There is no doubt that the situation has improved compared to four years ago," he said. "Today, we are acting with full sovereignty. The capture of Kidal shows that there has been a major change." In November 2023, the Malian Armed Forces, with the help of Wagner Group mercenaries, recaptured the northern city of Kidal from the CSP rebel alliance. The Ministry of Defense's 2025 budget is 485 billion CFA francs (about $858 million), accounting for nearly 20% of the national budget. Some voices feel it's disproportionate. "At some point, you have to negotiate," Yoyana Baniara, a former judge and politician in Chad, told DW. "If you put a larger portion of resources into war, you put the country in a difficult economic situation." Dissolution of political parties, suppression of free speech in Mali In May 2025, the Malian authorities decided to dissolve all political parties. Many, including Sidylamine Bagayoko, professor of anthropology at the University of Bamako, feel it was the wrong move. "It is political debate that enriches the diversity of discussions and opinions so that the country can move forward," says Bagayoko. Since Mali had close to 300 political parties, many agreed that the system was in need of reform. But such an extreme decision, according to Ulf Laessing, director of the Sahel regional office for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bamako, amounts to an "abolition of the opposition." May 3, 2025: Pro-junta demonstrators in Bamako chant slogans as opposing political parties protest against their dissolution Image: AFP Indeed, opposition voices seem to come increasingly under threat. The opportunities to freely express one's opinion in Mali have deteriorated over the past five years, said Claus-Dieter König, head of the West Africa office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLS) in Dakar. "Goita is becoming a dictatorial ruler. Opposition members live in fear of being arrested. Radio stations have been banned and it is more difficult to obtain licenses," König says. Journalists in the country feel pressure not to write about army losses in the fight against jihadists or about Russian mercenaries, say experts, Oppression in every corner Several pro-democracy activists have recently been detained in Mali. According to Human Rights Watch, two opposition leaders who took part in protests in early May have disappeared. Research by the journalist consortium Forbidden Stories found that Malian civilians have been arbitrarily arrested, kidnapped, and tortured in secret prisons. They say Mali's army and the Wagner Group are behind this. Government member Fousseyni Ouattara rejects such accusations: "In Mali, our prisons are open to everyone. Anyone can visit them. No one is arbitrarily arrested," he told DW. Mali's academic sector is also under threat, says professor Sidylamine Bagayoko: "From 2020 to the present, we have seen several academics imprisoned. As a result, other intellectuals who want to write about restrictions on freedoms, or express their opinions about it. remain cautious." Assimi Goita took control of Mali through two coups Image: AP Photo/picture alliance However, despite concerns related to freedom of expression, the current regime still has many supporters, said Laessing. 'I do believe that the predominantly young population still supports the government because they did not want a return to the old elites, who, although elected, were considered corrupt and very close to France.' Fighting corruption while Mali's economy struggles When it comes to corruption, some observers are cautiously optimistic. "In the population survey we conduct annually, respondents say they see an improvement," says Svenja Bode, resident representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Mali office in Bamako. In 2021, about 90% of respondents said they believed corruption in Mali was very high. This figure has fallen to 58% according to this year's survey which was released in May. Yet regardless of whether or not such perceptions are accurate, it is clear that the government has taken some steps towards reducing corruption — and made sure they were covered by the media, said Bode. Yet fighting corruption is one thing; improving everyday life is another. 'I don't yet see the major economic progress that will ultimately translate into better living conditions,' said Claus‑Dieter König of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. Mali recently introduced an unpopular new tax on mobile communications and mobile‑money transfers. Explainer: What the German troop withdrawal from Mali means To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Education initiatives suffer Meanwhile, power shortages remain a serious problem, and the cost of living has risen sharply due to inflation linked in part to Russia's war in Ukraine, which has driven up the cost of materials worldwide. "Mali imports everything from gasoline to grain, is heavily dependent on the world market and has no access to the coast,' said Ulf Laessing of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. At the same time, experts such as Laessing say Western countries, including France, are suspending their work in Mali as Russia becomes more involved. The shift is negatively affecting education initiatives. Laessing said he spoke with Malian participants at an education conference in Tunisia who told him that although there are many initiatives and plans, few are implemented. Reliou Koubakin and Etienne Gatanazi contributed to this article. It was edited by Sarah Hucal.

A look at Mali after five years of military rule – DW – 06/17/2025

3 days ago

Politics
DW

A look at Mali after five years of military rule – DW – 06/17/2025

When General Assimi Goita seized power in 2020, many hoped it would bring positive change to Mali, a country grappling with jihadist attacks and an economic crisis. What has actually happened in the past five years? In 2020 and 2021, General Assimi Goita siezed power of Mali, bringing the country under military rule. Elections scheduled for February 2024 were postponed due to "technical reasons," including issues related to the adoption of a new constitution and a review of electoral lists. A new date has not been announced. In June 2025, the National Transitional Council approved a bill granting Goita an additional five-year term, extending his presidency until at least 2030. Stalled fight against Islamist rebels One of the main justifications for the coup was to improve the nation's security amid rising jihadist attacks. However, this plan has not worked, said Ahmed Ould Abdallah, president of the Sahel Sahara Center for Security Strategies. "Not only has terrorism not disappeared, it is actually increasing and becoming more intense. It no longer affects only the north and center of the country, but also the south toward Sikasso, and the Kayes region in the west," he told DW. In early June 2025, several Malian army positions were attacked by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known as JNIM. At least 30 people were killed in the attack on a camp. In September 2024, JNIM succeeded in attacking Bamako and occupied the airport for several hours. In July 2024, heavy fighting took place in the town of Tinzaouatène near the Algerian border. Tuareg separatists inflicted heavy losses on the Malian army and the Russian-backed Wagner Group. What's driving Russia's ambitious push into Africa? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Fousseyni Ouattara, vice president of the Defense and Security Commission of Mali's transitional parliament, the National Transitional Council told DW he blames "invisible hands" for the recent attacks, without offering a specific explanation. He claims that Mali is in control of its territory. "There is no doubt that the situation has improved compared to four years ago," he said. "Today, we are acting with full sovereignty. The capture of Kidal shows that there has been a major change." In November 2023, the Malian Armed Forces, with the help of Wagner Group mercenaries, recaptured the northern city of Kidal from the CSP rebel alliance. The Ministry of Defense's 2025 budget is 485 billion CFA francs (about $858 million), accounting for nearly 20% of the national budget. Some voices feel it's disproportionate. "At some point, you have to negotiate," Yoyana Baniara, a former judge and politician in Chad, told DW. "If you put a larger portion of resources into war, you put the country in a difficult economic situation." Dissolution of political parties, suppression of free speech In May 2025, the Malian authorities decided to dissolve all political parties. Many, including Sidylamine Bagayoko, professor of anthropology at the University of Bamako, feel it was the wrong move. "It is political debate that enriches the diversity of discussions and opinions so that the country can move forward," says Bagayoko. Since Mali had close to 300 political parties, many agreed that the system was in need of reform. But such an extreme decision, according to Ulf Laessing, director of the Sahel regional office for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bamako, amounts to an "abolition of the opposition." May 3, 2025: Pro-junta demonstrators in Bamako chant slogans as opposing political parties protest against their dissolution Image: AFP Indeed, opposition voices seem to come increasingly under threat. The opportunities to freely express one's opinion in Mali have deteriorated over the past five years, said Claus-Dieter König, head of the West Africa office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLS) in Dakar. "Goita is becoming a dictatorial ruler. Opposition members live in fear of being arrested. Radio stations have been banned and it is more difficult to obtain licenses," he says. Journalists in the country feel pressure not to write about army losses in the fight against jihadists or about Russian mercenaries, say experts, Oppression in every corner Several pro-democracy activists have recently been detained in Mali. According to Human Rights Watch, two opposition leaders who took part in protests in early May have disappeared. Research by the journalist consortium Forbidden Stories found that Malian civilians have been arbitrarily arrested, kidnapped, and tortured in secret prisons. They say Mali's army and the Wagner Group are behind this. Government member Fousseyni Ouattara rejects such accusations: "In Mali, our prisons are open to everyone. Anyone can visit them. No one is arbitrarily arrested," he told DW. Mali's academic sector is also under threat, says professor Sidylamine Bagayoko: "From 2020 to the present, we have seen several academics imprisoned. As a result, other intellectuals who want to write about restrictions on freedoms, or express their opinions about it remain cautious." Assimi Goita took control of Mali through two coups Image: AP Photo/picture alliance However, despite concerns related to freedom of expression, the current regime still has many supporters, said Ulf Laessing. 'I do believe that the predominantly young population still supports the government because they did not want a return to the old elites, who, although elected, were considered corrupt and very close to France.' Fighting corruption while the economy struggles When it comes to corruption, some observers are cautiously optimistic. "In the population survey we conduct annually, respondents say they see an improvement," says Svenja Bode, Svenja Bode, resident representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Mali office in Bamako. In 2021, about 90% of respondents said they believed corruption in Mali was very high. This figure has fallen to 58% according to this year's survey which was released in May. Yet regardless of whether or not such perceptions are accurate, it is clear that the government has taken some steps towards reducing corruption — and made sure they were covered by the media, said Bode. Yet fighting corruption is one thing; improving everyday life is another. 'I don't yet see the major economic progress that will ultimately translate into better living conditions,' said Claus‑Dieter König of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. Mali recently introduced an unpopular new tax on mobile communications and mobile‑money transfers. Explainer: What the German troop withdrawal from Mali means To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Education initiatives suffer Meanwhile, power shortages remain a serious problem, and the cost of living has risen sharply due to inflation linked in part to Russia's war in Ukraine, which has driven up the cost of materials worldwide. 'Mali imports everything from gasoline to grain, is heavily dependent on the world market and has no access to the coast,' said Ulf Laessing, director of the Sahel regional office for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bamako. At the same time, experts such as Laessing say Western countries, including France, are suspending their work in Mali as Russia becomes more involved. The shift is negatively affecting education initiatives. Laessing said he spoke with Malian participants at an education conference in Tunisia who told him that although there are many initiatives and plans, few are implemented. Reliou Koubakin and Etienne Gatanazi contributed to this article. It was edited by Sarah Hucal.

54 Soldiers Killed in Terrorist Attack in Benin

See - Sada Elbalad

24-04-2025

Politics
See - Sada Elbalad

54 Soldiers Killed in Terrorist Attack in Benin

Israa Farhan The government of Benin has confirmed that 54 soldiers were killed in a deadly terrorist attack in the north of the country last week. The official toll, released Wednesday, is lower than the number claimed by a group linked to al-Qaeda, which took responsibility for the assault. This marks one of the deadliest attacks on Benin's military in recent years, highlighting the increasing threat posed by jihadist groups expanding their reach beyond the Sahel region into West Africa. Benin and neighboring Togo have both experienced a surge in extremist violence, as armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State intensify operations in the region. In a statement posted on Facebook, presidential spokesperson Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji described the event as a "devastating loss for the nation," underlining the gravity of the security challenge facing the country. According to SITE Intelligence Group, an organization that monitors extremist activity, the al-Qaeda-affiliated group claimed responsibility on Saturday, stating it had killed 70 soldiers in attacks on two military outposts in northern Benin. While the government did not confirm the higher casualty figure, the incident underscores Benin's growing vulnerability to extremist violence spreading southward from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where foreign military operations have scaled down in recent years. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple

US officials say senior al-Qaeda affiliate leader killed in Syrian strike

Yahoo

01-03-2025

Politics
Yahoo

US officials say senior al-Qaeda affiliate leader killed in Syrian strike

A U.S. airstrike killed a senior al-Qaeda-affiliated leader in Northwest Syria last month, according to U.S. officials. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday that its forces targeted and killed Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, a senior military leader of the Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate that is designated as a terrorist organization by the State Department. The precision airstrike was carried out on Feb. 23, according to CENTCOM. 'As we have said in the past, we will continue to pursue relentlessly these terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,' CENTCOM Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement. The 12-second video, shared by CENTCOM, shows the airtrike connecting on the left side of the vehicle the U.S. officials believe was driven by Talay. The Feb. 23 strike came just two days after another strike in Northwest Syria killed Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar, a senior leadership facilitator of HaD, CENTCOM said. HaD was formed in 2018 after Al-Qaeda and Nusrah Front, a designated terrorist group, broke apart, according to the National Counterterrorism Center (NCC). HaD, which still has access to Al-Qaeda members, primarily operates in the Indlib Province of Northwest Syria. NCC estimates the group has as many as 2,500 members. The latest strike marked the third HaD senior military official being killed in Syria in the last month, NBC News reported on Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

US military says senior leader of al-Qaeda-affiliated group killed in Syria

LBCI