Several different viewpoints on the now delayed UK deployment to Mali, an announcement that missed me amidst the pandemic media focus. A deployment that I consider unwise, which is more for non-Mali...
Type: Posts; User: davidbfpo; Keyword(s):
Deployment without learning from regional lessons
Several different viewpoints on the now delayed UK deployment to Mali, an announcement that missed me amidst the pandemic media focus. A deployment that I consider unwise, which is more for non-Mali...
The British are coming
Actually a larger contingent (250 men) is going to Mali later this year to join the UN Mission MINUSMA; there is a RAF Chinook detachment, with three helicopters, with a 94-man based in Gao since...
Where are the incidents?
5589
Source: ACLED once more!
5588
How the rate of deaths from attacks has...
5588
How the rate of deaths from attacks has intensified
Key
Red: Armed clashes; Purple: Violence against civilians and Brown (Feint) Explosions.
The time scale is from 2011 to 2019
...
British troops to join force countering Mali militants
A mix of updates and with our current political focus unlikely to attract much attention:
1. ...
Jihadist violence and communal divisions fuel worsening conflict in Mali and beyond
An IISS overview, subtitled:
It ends with:
Link:https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2019/06/conflicts-in-mali?
Speaking with the “Bad Guys”: Toward Dialogue with Central Mali’s Jihadists
An ICG report and sub-titled:
Link:https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/sahel/mali/276-speaking-bad-guys-toward-dialogue-central-malis-jihadists
A comment by Richard Barrett, ex-UN, SIS plus via...
China’s UN Peacekeeping in Mali: Strategies and Risks
A short article by the Oxford Research Group; in summary:
Link:https://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/blog/chinas-un-peacekeeping-in-mali-strategies-and-risks
Two items. A film report via Al-Jazeera, which...
Two items. A film report via Al-Jazeera, which looks at the Canadian Chinook deployment and the Dutch SOF (who leave soon too):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON0-VybdyTc
Then a SME...
Canada will not extend their year-long Chinook...
Canada will not extend their year-long Chinook medevac deployment:https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-canada-wont-extend-peacekeeping-mission-in-mali-chrystia-freeland/
Canada has been asked to extend for three months...
Canada has been asked to extend for three months its helicopter deployment in Mali; their role is casevac. Rumanian Puma helicopters are not ready yet, their scheduled arrival is July 2019....
Danes to join the war
hat tip to WoTR for this article, which opens with - optimism shines through IMHO:
Link:https://warontherocks.com/2019/03/what-does-european-defense-look-like-the-answer-might-be-in-the-sahel/
Confronting Central Mali’s Extremist Threat
I have never heard of this group the article examines:
Link:https://africacenter.org/spotlight/confronting-central-malis-extremist-threat/
RAF Chinooks in Mali
In mid-July 2018 the UK deployed three RAF Chinooks to support the French in Mali, for a year; they became operational a month later and this all was publicly announced. One RUSI expert expressed...
Two reports on the Sahel: Mali & Niger
The first is a BBC News photo essay 'The war in the desert; Why the Sahara is terror's new front line'. IT has a few interesting, though not new quotes. This refers o the UN peacekeepers, almost...
A recipe for perpetual conflict and not just in...
A recipe for perpetual conflict and not just in the Tuareg north. A quick overview after the missing vehicle for the ambush of US & Niger patrol....
The Foreign Legion in Mali
A week old, short French TV documentary (21 mins) on a three month tour to Mali by a French Foreign Legion detachment, as part of Operation Barkhane; the reporter was with them for six days and not a...
Mali the deadliest peacekeeping mission in the world - now Canada joins
A succinct summary by a Canadian academic (in the 2nd link) after Canada's decision to deploy: ...
Tuareg militias again clash with Islamic State-loyal militants in northern Mali
An illustration how complicated northern Mali can be.
Link:https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2018/03/tuareg-militias-again-clash-with-islamic-state-loyal-militants-in-northern-mali.php
COIN in the Sahel: who are the blurred enemy?
A brief overview of the key non-state armed actors in the region, which includes non-jihadist groups in alliance sometimes with the Mali government for example; jihadist groups and others.
Nothing...
A dozen shades of khaki: counter-insurgency operations in the Sahel
An overview article on the various international, regional and local forces deployed in the region, the Sahel, but Mali features strongly so added here.
I had missed this:...
Mali: France's Afghanistan
An intriguing comparison and hat tip to WoTR for the article. Here is one poignant phrase:Link:https://warontherocks.com/2017/12/mali-is-frances-afghanistan-but-with-a-difference/
Not looking good
A short report via ECFR's website by Andrew Lebovich, a previously cited SME and his slim bio is on:http://www.ecfr.eu/profile/C387
He is not optimistic and ends...
Update: It ain't half hot Kamerad
This War is Boring article is focused on the German Army's problems with their vehicles in the heat and dust of Mali, lus their drones and armed...
A forgotten war for most
Reports from Mali are rare, so thanks to alerts from Andrew Lebovich to two reports today.
The first report is by two lady Al-Jazeera journalists who accompanied a Nigerien patrol on a supply...