Military adventures in Africa

[Fwiffo]

Russia's African footprint grows with Lavrov trip to Mali

Amid Russia's isolation, its friendship with Mali blossoms, but has it stopped jihadist violence?

www.bbc.com

"Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has promised continued military support for Mali, which has been battling a jihadist insurgency since 2012. Last year, Mali turned its back on former colonial power France favouring help from Russia instead."

"Mali's military government has batted away criticism of this shift to Russia. 'We will no longer justify our choice of partner. Russia is here on demand by Mali and responds efficiently to our strategic needs,' Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said during a joint press briefing with his Russian counterpart."

 

[Fwiffo]

Why is South Africa's navy joining exercises with Russia and China?

Opposition parties and the US criticise the 10-day naval drills during the conflict in Ukraine.

www.bbc.com

"Russia has announced it will send its Admiral Gorshkov warship, which carries Zircon hypersonic missiles. These fly at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of 1,000 km (620 miles).

Moscow 'will be trying to show that despite its setbacks in the war in Ukraine, its armed forces are still very powerful', says Denys Reva from South Africa's Institute for Security Studies."
....

"China is keen to keep shipping lanes open for commercial vessels travelling from its ports to African destinations, says Dr Vines. It also wants to establish its naval power in the Indian Ocean, off the African coast. 'It's about getting its navy out into international waters. China already uses Djibouti on the East African coast as a naval base to combat piracy, and perhaps it is hoping to get more bases.'"

 

[Fwiffo]

Is Macron really saying the France-Afrique is finished?

On 2 March in Gabon, West Africa, President Macron declared that ‘the days of France-Afrique are over’. Since the early nineteenth century the African continent has emblazoned France’s aspiration to international power status. Like any empire it provided natural resources. It also provided...

www.spectator.co.uk

C'est fini pour nos ancêtres les Gaulois

 

[Fwiffo]

Read about this in a pay-walled article this morning...

Cartoons By The Russian Wagner Group Show Its Forces Assisting Locals Fight French Forces – Symbolized By Rats, Snakes, And Zombies – In Mali, Ivory Coast

Cartoons that were posted on YouTube show the Russian Wagner PMC group forces assisting local forces in Africa fight "co...

www.memri.org

 

[Fwiffo]

Wagner in Sudan: What have Russian mercenaries been up to?

The Wagner group denies involvement in the current conflict, but there's evidence it has previously been active in Sudan.

www.bbc.com

"We've found no evidence that Russian mercenaries are currently inside the country. But there is evidence of Wagner's previous activities in Sudan, and Mr Prighozin's operations in the country have been targeted by both US and EU sanctions."

Innocent.

 

[Fwiffo]

Pretty much like the US version of Blackwater and I am sure the Chinese and Indians have their own versions.

 

[Fwiffo]

Is Russia purging Wagner Group troops in Africa?

A video obtained by NBC News that appears to show Wagner operatives in the Central African Republican has raised questions about a possible purge of the group by Moscow.

www.nbcnews.com

Who is going to make sure the little kids continue digging up gold for Russia?

 

[Fwiffo]

Yevgeny Prigozhin: Wagner boss says activities to continue in Africa

Yevgeny Prigozhin says "there will be no reduction in our programmes" in the continent.

www.bbc.com

"Mr Prigozhin's soldiers are embedded in countries including Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR) - where rights groups and the UN accuse them of committing war crimes."

All Blackwater/Xe Services/Academi Wagner troops will continue to provide security services to Mali and Central African Republic whilst resource extraction and other consulting support will be transferred to a new entity - Constellis Holdings Wenger.

 

[Fwiffo]

48 hours ago I was watching this:

U.S. troops training soldiers in Niger to take on Islamic extremist groups

U.S. Special Forces are training Nigerien Special Ops soldiers in the West African country of Niger to prepare for a fight against Islamic extremist groups as they face a growing terror threat. NBC News’ Courtney Kube takes a closer look at the mission.

www.nbcnews.com

24 hours ago I see this:

Niger’s presidential guard surrounds leader’s home in what African organizations call a coup attempt

The French and U.S. governments also voiced concern and urged the participating guardsmen to change course.

www.nbcnews.com

...I hope those trained by the US Special Forces are going to save their own elected leader.

 

[Fwiffo]

Protesters attack French embassy in Niger as West African governments threaten coup leaders

Supporters of the coup waved Russian flags in the capital while regional leaders warned of potential military action to restore democratic rule.

www.nbcnews.com

No, there's no coup yet. The US embassy continues to be open.

 

[Fwiffo]

Niger coup: Wagner taking advantage of instability - Antony Blinken

There are concerns the Russian mercenary group may be gaining influence in the country.

www.bbc.com

"'I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but... they tried to take advantage of it.

'Every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed,' said Mr Blinken. 'Insecurity has gone up, not down'."

Good testimonials from the military junta in Mali.

 

[Fwiffo]

Coup leaders in Niger grow increasingly defiant, U.S. officials losing hope

The junta has refused to guarantee the safety of the deposed president, and France and countries in the region are drawing up plans for a potential military intervention.

www.nbcnews.com

"...the junta believes the threat of an ECOWAS military intervention is very real and they believe that if ECOWAS intervenes militarily they will do so by the end of August, with support from France."

Wagner...France...West African states...US trained Niger special forces. All we need is Al Qaeda and ISIS to give the first spark.

 

[Fwiffo]

Wagner chief Prigozhin appears in first video since Russian mutiny

In a brief video shared by Russian social media channels, a person who appears to be the exiled mercenary chief says he is recruiting “real strong men.”

www.nbcnews.com

“Wagner is conducting reconnaissance and search operations, making Russia even greater on every continent — and Africa even more free. Justice and happiness for the African nations,”

Africans rejoice...

 

[Fwiffo]

Military officers in Gabon declare coup and place president under house arrest

If ECOWAS doesn't want to move in to save Niger, here's another country that might need help.