US, Russia clash at UN meeting over ‘violent extremism’ in Africa
2 years, 2 months ago

US, Russia clash at UN meeting over ‘violent extremism’ in Africa

Al Jazeera  

The US is accusing Russian military contractors of interfering in Sahel countries’ internal affairs. The United States has accused Kremlin-backed Russian military contractors of interfering in the internal affairs of African countries and “increasing the likelihood that violent extremism will grow” in the Sahel region, which is facing increasing attacks, an allegation Russia denied. Russia’s Deputy Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva rejected what she called attempts “to besmirch Russian assistance to Mali”, where Moscow has a bilateral agreement to assist the transitional government, “and in other countries in Africa”. Mills, the US deputy ambassador, said the US is deeply concerned about the security, humanitarian and political crisis in the Sahel causing “a dramatic increase in the strength and influence of violent extremism”. “We are also gravely concerned about democratic backsliding across the region and urge the return of democratically elected, civilian-led governments.” West Africa’s latest wave of coups kicked off in Mali in 2020, followed by another in Guinea in 2021, and then in Burkina Faso in January 2022.

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History of this topic

‘More bullets’: Analysts mull whether Russia will move to Libya after Syria
2 months, 2 weeks ago

‘More bullets’: Analysts mull whether Russia will move to Libya after Syria

Al Jazeera  

Russia’s potential redeployment to Libya carries consequences for Moscow, Tripoli and beyond. Expanding Russia’s presence in Africa through its positions in Syria and Libya had been a goal of Kremlin planners since about 2017, one “Russia had fought for” and was not ready to give up on, said Oleg Ignatov, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group. “Libya offers …

UN envoy warns that threat of terrorism is `resurging’ with attacks by Islamic State extremists
7 months, 3 weeks ago

UN envoy warns that threat of terrorism is `resurging’ with attacks by Islamic State extremists

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The top U.N. envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday that the threat of terrorism is “resurging” with attacks by Islamic State extremists set to double this year, endangering civilians already facing a “protracted state of displacement and dire humanitarian conditions.” U.N. Special Envoy Geir Pedersen said Syria is “riddled with armed actors, listed terrorist …

The Islamic State group poses rising threat in Africa despite progress, UN experts say
1 year, 1 month ago

The Islamic State group poses rising threat in Africa despite progress, UN experts say

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The Islamic State extremist group poses a rising threat amid political instability in West Africa and the Sahel and remains intent on carrying out attacks abroad, the U.N. counter-terrorism chief said Thursday. “Daesh affiliates continued to operate with increasingly more autonomy from the Daesh core,” he said, warning that if this trend persists there is a risk …

Blinken pitches the US as an alternative to Russia’s Wagner in Africa’s troubled Sahel
1 year, 1 month ago

Blinken pitches the US as an alternative to Russia’s Wagner in Africa’s troubled Sahel

Associated Press  

ABUJA, Nigeria — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday pitched the United States as a better security partner for Africa in place of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, which he accused of exploiting coup-hit and conflict-hit nations in the continent’s Sahel region. Blinken, who is visiting Nigeria as part of an Africa tour to strengthen bilateral relations, said the …

US warns military takeovers in Africa’s Sahel hamper fight against terrorism in the volatile region
1 year, 6 months ago

US warns military takeovers in Africa’s Sahel hamper fight against terrorism in the volatile region

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The United States warned Friday that the string of military takeovers in Africa’s Sahel region will hamper the fight against terrorism and demanded that Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers deny safe haven to terrorist groups including al-Qaida and the Islamic State. Their actions and their activities in Africa are destabilizing, and we’ve encouraged countries in Africa to condemn their …

In Niger, US seeks to hang on to its last, best counterterrorist outpost in West Africa
1 year, 7 months ago

In Niger, US seeks to hang on to its last, best counterterrorist outpost in West Africa

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. President Joe Biden, in a statement Thursday, called for …

Infamous private military company Wagner Group has been acting internationally in Russian interests for years
1 year, 8 months ago

Infamous private military company Wagner Group has been acting internationally in Russian interests for years

The Hindu  

Published : Jun 26, 2023 13:02 IST - 6 MINS READ The Wagner Group is not just active in Ukraine. According to observers, the main aim of the Wagner Group here is to secure Russian access to valuable raw materials including gold, manganese, silicon and uranium deposits “Yevgeny Prigozhin and his network are exploiting Sudan’s natural resources for personal gain …

US sanctions head of Russia’s Wagner Group in Mali, accused of arms trafficking for Ukraine fight
1 year, 9 months ago

US sanctions head of Russia’s Wagner Group in Mali, accused of arms trafficking for Ukraine fight

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The U.S. on Thursday sanctioned the leader of Russia’s paramilitary Wagner Group in Mali, citing what it said were indications that the Kremlin was trying to use the West African nation as a way-station for arms shipments to Russian forces in Ukraine. The Treasury Department sanctions target Wagner Group local official Ivan Maslov and refer to unspecified signs …

US says Wagner Group is trying to use third countries to obscure weapons shipments to Ukraine
1 year, 9 months ago

US says Wagner Group is trying to use third countries to obscure weapons shipments to Ukraine

CNN  

CNN — The Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group has been working to obscure its efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, including by trying to source the materials from Mali, where the group has a strong foothold, a US official told CNN. A US intelligence document contained in a trove of classified information leaked online in recent months …

US to Mali: End restrictions on UN peacekeepers, seek peace
1 year, 11 months ago

US to Mali: End restrictions on UN peacekeepers, seek peace

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The United States warned Mali’s military government Wednesday that it would be “irresponsible” for the United Nations to continue deploying its more than 15,000 peacekeepers unless the western African nation ends restrictions including on operating reconnaissance drones and carries out political commitments toward peace and elections in March 2024. The United States is also “greatly concerned” that …

How a shadowy Russian organisation is making political and economic inroads across Africa
1 year, 11 months ago

How a shadowy Russian organisation is making political and economic inroads across Africa

ABC  

With the West's eyes on Russia's strategy, manoeuvres and human rights abuses in Ukraine, is it missing what the country is up to on another continent? Julia Stanyard, a senior analyst with the non-government organisation Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, says Russia's most significant presence in Africa is not the Russian state, but a shadowy Russian private company. " …

Russia pledges military support to Mali during Lavrov visit
2 years, 1 month ago

Russia pledges military support to Mali during Lavrov visit

Associated Press  

BAMAKO, Mali — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pledged military support to Mali during his first visit to the West African nation Tuesday and dismissed criticism of Moscow’s growing influence on the continent. Lavrov’s trip to Bamako, Mali’s capital, comes as Western countries express their concerns about alleged human rights abuses committed by Russian mercenaries working for the private military …

Experts seek investigation of Wagner Group, Mali forces
2 years, 1 month ago

Experts seek investigation of Wagner Group, Mali forces

Associated Press  

GENEVA — Independent human rights experts working with the U.N. on Tuesday called for an investigation of possible abuses, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by government forces in Mali and the Wagner Group, a shadowy Russian military contractor. More than a dozen experts, who focus on issues as various as the use of mercenaries, torture, and violence against …

UN experts urge probe into possible war crimes in Mali by Wagner
2 years, 1 month ago

UN experts urge probe into possible war crimes in Mali by Wagner

Al Jazeera  

Western powers accuse the Malian military and Russian mercenaries of crimes against humanity in the fight against insecurity in the Sahel. United Nations experts on Tuesday called for an independent investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Mali by government forces and Russian private military contractor the Wagner Group. Mali, whose government took power in a 2021 …

Mali defends Russian ties and opposes options for UN force
2 years, 1 month ago

Mali defends Russian ties and opposes options for UN force

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — Mali’s foreign minister defended the military government’s cooperation with Russia on Friday and rejected three options proposed by the U.N. chief to reconfigure the U.N. peacekeeping force in the west African country where Al-Qaida and Islamic State extremist groups are driving insecurity. But Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ internal review released this week of the 17,500-strong U.N. mission, known …

US envoy says Russian Wagner Group’s activities intolerable
2 years, 2 months ago

US envoy says Russian Wagner Group’s activities intolerable

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — A senior U.S. envoy expressed strong concern Thursday about the activities of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group and its alleged attempts to recruit soldiers in Serbia and elsewhere in the world. Moscow’s propaganda portal RT, which recently started its Serbian-language online news site in Serbia, has published Wagner’s recruitment advert seeking fighters in Ukraine, saying …

US and Russia clash over violent extremism in Africa
2 years, 2 months ago

US and Russia clash over violent extremism in Africa

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The United States accused Russian military contractors backed by the Kremlin on Tuesday of interfering in the internal affairs of African countries and “increasing the likelihood that violent extremism will grow” in the Sahel region which is facing increasing attacks and deteriorating security -- an allegation Russia denied. Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador Anna Evstigneeva rejected attempts “to …

Wagner Group allegedly given Burkina Faso mine in exchange for help fighting jihadi extremists
2 years, 3 months ago

Wagner Group allegedly given Burkina Faso mine in exchange for help fighting jihadi extremists

ABC  

Burkina Faso has allegedly made an agreement with Russia's Wagner Group in which the mercenary outfit will help the West African country deal with surging jihadi violence in exchange for a mine. Key points: Ghana's president says his neighbour traded a gold mine for support from the Wagner Group The mercenary group is also linked to illegal diamond, oil and …

Mali accuses France of `duplicitous acts’ which it denies
2 years, 4 months ago

Mali accuses France of `duplicitous acts’ which it denies

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — Mali’s foreign minister accused former colonial power France on Tuesday of “duplicitous acts” of aggression and espionage aimed at destabilizing the troubled West African country -- allegations immediately dismissed by France’s U.N. ambassador as “mendacious” and “defamatory.” The acrimonious exchange at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Mali highlighted the depth to which relations between the two …

Op-Ed: How Russian battlefield defeats in Ukraine could lead to terrorism in the West
2 years, 5 months ago

Op-Ed: How Russian battlefield defeats in Ukraine could lead to terrorism in the West

LA Times  

As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to suffer humiliating battlefield defeats, his growing desperation may lead him to conclude that Russian-backed terrorist attacks against Western countries are a legitimate response. Because NATO countries have been supplying Ukraine’s military with weaponry and training its soldiers, the Kremlin has engaged in nuclear saber-rattling against them, raising concerns that Russia could use a …

Russia, United States spar at UN over arms to Ukraine
2 years, 6 months ago

Russia, United States spar at UN over arms to Ukraine

Al Jazeera  

War of words comes after the US announced military aid worth $2.2bn to Ukraine and neighbouring nations ‘potentially at risk of future Russian aggression’. The comments by Russia’s United Nations ambassador Vasily Nebenzya on Thursday portrayed the military aid as a threat to European and global security, accusing Ukraine’s military officials – without providing proof – of plotting to divert …

Shrouded in secrecy for years, Russia’s Wagner Group opens up
2 years, 7 months ago

Shrouded in secrecy for years, Russia’s Wagner Group opens up

Al Jazeera  

The mysterious network of mercenaries is embracing an ever-public image as the war on Ukraine drags on. “Mercenaries have no official status, so they don’t have the same rights or guarantees as an official representative of the armed forces, and payment is only after completing a mission,” Marat Gabidullin told Al Jazeera. “It’s always been a part of either military …

Shrouded in secrecy for years, Russia’s Wagner Group opens up
2 years, 7 months ago

Shrouded in secrecy for years, Russia’s Wagner Group opens up

Al Jazeera  

The mysterious network of mercenaries is embracing an ever-public image as the war on Ukraine drags on. “Mercenaries have no official status, so they don’t have the same rights or guarantees as an official representative of the armed forces, and payment is only after completing a mission,” Marat Gabidullin told Al Jazeera. “It’s always been a part of either military …

Russian mercenaries are Putin’s ‘coercive tool’ in Africa
2 years, 10 months ago

Russian mercenaries are Putin’s ‘coercive tool’ in Africa

LA Times  

This undated photograph handed out by the French military shows three Russian mercenaries, right, in northern Mali. “They essentially run the Central African Republic,” and are a growing force in Mali, Gen. Stephen Townsend, the commander of U.S. armed forces in Africa, told a Senate hearing last month. Russian national Valery Zakharov is Touadera’s national security advisor but also a …

Russian mercenaries are Putin’s ‘coercive tool’ in Africa
2 years, 10 months ago

Russian mercenaries are Putin’s ‘coercive tool’ in Africa

Al Jazeera  

Russia has deployed the Wagner Group in military operations across at least half a dozen African nations. The United States identifies Wagner’s financer as Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch who is close to the Russian president and sometimes is called “Putin’s chef” for his flashy restaurants favoured by the Russian leader. But there is another objective of Russia’s “hybrid war” in …

UN demands Mali allow peacekeepers into town where 300 died
2 years, 11 months ago

UN demands Mali allow peacekeepers into town where 300 died

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The top U.N. envoy in Mali demanded Thursday that the country’s military leaders allow U.N. peacekeepers to visit a town where Human Rights Watch says the Malian army and foreign soldiers suspected to be Russian recently killed an estimated 300 men, one of several alleged rights abuses denounced by the U.S., Britain and France. Ambassador Nicolas De …

S Africa’s Ramaphosa: NATO to blame for Russia’s war in Ukraine
2 years, 11 months ago

S Africa’s Ramaphosa: NATO to blame for Russia’s war in Ukraine

Al Jazeera  

Ramaphosa had previously said he had been approached to mediate in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has blamed NATO for the war in Ukraine and said he would resist calls to condemn Russia, in comments that cast doubt over whether he would be accepted by Ukraine or the West as a mediator. Ramaphosa, who was speaking on …

Russian footholds in Middle East, Africa raise threat to NATO
3 years ago

Russian footholds in Middle East, Africa raise threat to NATO

Firstpost  

Experts view Vladimir Putin’s expansionist goals in the Middle East and Africa as a potential long-term threat, not a present danger to Europe or the NATO alliance Beirut: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine dominates world attention. But with less global scrutiny, Putin is also busy advancing Russia’s presence in the Middle East and Africa — an expansion that …

Russian footholds in Mideast, Africa raise threat to NATO
3 years ago

Russian footholds in Mideast, Africa raise threat to NATO

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine dominates world attention. — In Syria, Russia’s defense minister last month showed off nuclear-capable bombers and hypersonic missiles over the Mediterranean, part of a security partnership that now has the Kremlin threatening to send Syrian fighters to Ukraine. — In Sudan, a leader of a junta that’s seized power in that …

French FM accuses Russian mercenaries of ‘despoiling’ Mali
3 years, 1 month ago

French FM accuses Russian mercenaries of ‘despoiling’ Mali

Al Jazeera  

Le Drian says Russian company Wagner is exploiting the country’s resources in exchange for protecting the military government. France’s foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has accused Russian private military contractor Wagner Group of plundering Mali’s resources amid heightened tensions between Paris and the country’s military government in recent weeks, including over the fate of European forces deployed in the region …

Top Russian diplomat defends mercenaries’ presence in Mali
3 years, 5 months ago

Top Russian diplomat defends mercenaries’ presence in Mali

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — Russia’s top diplomat on Saturday defended the Mali government’s right to hire a private Russian military company to help fight terrorists, accusing French troops in the country of failing to get rid of them and scolding the European Union for demanding that the Russian mercenaries leave. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the company has a “legitimate” right …

Mali approached Russian military company for help: Lavrov
3 years, 5 months ago

Mali approached Russian military company for help: Lavrov

Al Jazeera  

Mali has asked Russian private companies to boost security in the conflict-torn country, Moscow confirmed as the Malian leader accused France of abandoning Bamako by preparing a large troop drawdown. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday private Russian military contractors have a “legitimate” right to be in Mali because they were invited by the country’s transitional government – …

Talk of Wagner mercenary deal shines light on Mali power politics
3 years, 5 months ago

Talk of Wagner mercenary deal shines light on Mali power politics

Al Jazeera  

Possible deal with private security firm reflects ongoing political shift in Mali and changing dynamics in its ties with two powers, Russia and France. Experts have said that such a deal between Mali’s military-led government and the private security firm to hire nearly 1,000 mercenaries would increase Moscow’s influence while undermining French-led operations against armed groups operating in the country …

Germany concerned by talk of Russian mercenary ops in Mali
3 years, 6 months ago

Germany concerned by talk of Russian mercenary ops in Mali

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The German government expressed concern Wednesday at reports on the possible deployment of Russian mercenaries in Mali. Germany has several hundred soldiers taking part in United Nations stabilization and European Union training missions in the West African country. “We find the possibility of such a cooperation very worrying too,” said German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr, echoing comments …

West and Russia clash over Russian mercenaries in CAR
3 years, 8 months ago

West and Russia clash over Russian mercenaries in CAR

Associated Press  

UNITED NATIONS — The United States, Britain and France accused Russian mercenaries on Wednesday of operating alongside Central African Republic forces and committing human rights violations against civilians and obstructing U.N. peacekeeping -- charges immediately denied by Russia which denounced the Western nations for engaging in an “anti-Russia political hit job.” The exchanges took place at a U.N. Security Council …

US again accuses Russia of sending arms and mercenaries to Libya
4 years, 7 months ago

US again accuses Russia of sending arms and mercenaries to Libya

CNN  

Washington CNN — The US military has again accused Russia of sending weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, to Libya and sending Russian mercenaries to operate on the front lines of the conflict there. “It is assessed that the Russian Federation continues to violate UN Security Council Resolution UNSCR 1970 by actively providing military equipment and fighters to the front lines of …

Russia’s new focus on Africa takes advantage of US drift
5 years, 4 months ago

Russia’s new focus on Africa takes advantage of US drift

Associated Press  

JOHANNESBURG — Russian President Vladimir Putin is following China’s lead and making a splashy bid for influence in Africa, hosting the continent’s leaders this week in the first-ever Russia-Africa Summit. “It will be naive to say Russia’s return to Africa is not about geopolitics,” Nigerian analyst Ovigwe Eguegu wrote Monday for The China Africa Project blog. “Weapons exports to Africa …

Russia asks UN to blacklist two powerful Syrian rebel groups
8 years, 10 months ago

Russia asks UN to blacklist two powerful Syrian rebel groups

Firstpost  

Russia said on Wednesday it has asked the UN Security Council to blacklist two powerful rebel groups in Syria that it considers “terrorist organizations” United Nations: Russia said on Wednesday it has asked the UN Security Council to blacklist two powerful Syrian rebel groups that it considers “terrorist organizations,” one which is playing a key role in political negotiations aimed …

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