Mauritania 'destroys al-Qaeda camp' in Mali
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/af...224429787.html
Quote:
The Mauritanian army has launched an attack on an al-Qaeda training camp in neighbouring Mali and "completely destroyed" it, a Mauritanian security source said.
Friday's assault in the forest region of Wagadou in western Mali involved air strikes, the unnamed source told the AFP news agency, adding that the "terrorists" struck back with "heavy arms".
Subsequent reporting states 15 terrorists dead and along with two Mauitanian soldiers.
This is how the war on terror should be fought, we don't need to send U.S. Army Divisions to occupy nations to fight terrorists.
Mali kidnapping: One dead and three seized in Timbuktu
Quote:
An armed gang of kidnappers has abducted three tourists and killed a fourth in the city of Timbuktu in northern Mali, security sources said....
On Thursday, two French geologists were kidnapped by an armed gang in the eastern village of Hombori.
Links:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15895908 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15877709
Unclear what the motives are, notably if an act of terrorism and some distance between the two places.
Algerian troops 'in Mali to combat Qaeda groups'
Given that other, non-African nations have taken to wandering around the Sahel this is the first report I've seen on Algeria troops being in Mali:
Quote:
Algerian troops have crossed into Mali to help government forces combat groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda, officials and witnesses told AFP Tuesday.
"Algerian troops are currently stationed in northern Mali to assist the Malian army in the fight against terrorism," a high-ranking military official said. e would not divulge the number of Algerian troops now based in Mali nor the expected length of their stay.
"We know there is a team of instructors of at least 15, including officers," a diplomatic source said, also on condition of anonymity.
Link:http://news.yahoo.com/algerian-troop...eSBXb3JsZFNGIE
Dozens of Tuareg rebels dead in Mali clash
Reportedly the result of Tuareg mercenaries coming home from Libya and I note a new group calling for independence:
Quote:
the newly formed National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (NLMA)
Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16643507
The Tuaregs: From African Nomads to Smugglers and Mercenaries
Stratfor have a free access article The Tuaregs: From African Nomads to Smugglers and Mercenaries. Nothing startling, but a good, short overview. Clearly Mali is one of the Sahel countries to be affected, so will Niger.
Link:http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/tua...nd-mercenaries