Mali mainly, 2012 coup, drugs & more

[davidbfpo]

A Spanish woman kidnapped in West Africa last year has been freed, the Spanish government says.

Link:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8559985.stm

[davidbfpo]

Apparently Mali's cotton growers are the most productive growers there are and their main competition comes from state subsidised US cotton farmers. Cited as an example of 'double standards' when the West meets the Muslim world and even featured in WTO discussions. Clue from a Swiss diplomat this week when speaking in London.

[davidbfpo]

BBC report on a matter not captured here before:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8626306.stm

[davidbfpo]

BBC reports:

Four Saharan desert states are to open a joint command headquarters in Algeria to co-ordinate efforts to counter the growing regional threat from al-Qaeda. The Joint Military Staff Committee of Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger will be based in Tamanrasset (Algeria).

Link:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8633851.stm

Now will AFRICOM have a relationship with this effort?

[davidbfpo]

An update on the situation in the Sahel, with the focal point being Mali, where the crime-terror links is reported as thriving - drugs and kidnapping - with AQIM cooperating with local tribes: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010..._r=1&ref=world

[davidbfpo]

For two (unread) papers on AQIM, hat tip to the website too:http://www.jihadica.com/new-aqim-reports/#comments

[M-A Lagrange]

After 2 unsuccessful operations in sahara by the mauritanian and french special forces to liberate the French hostage (78 years old with heart problems) at the Mali border, AQ in Magreb annonce his execution.

Otage d'Al-Qaïda: Nicolas Sarkozy confirme la mort de Michel Germaneau
http://fr.news.yahoo.com/3/20100726/...y-1be00ca.html
(sorry the link is in French but I believe you can find links in english)

Some are wondering if there is a change in French doctrine on hostage management. I believe there is a change of doctrine in the hostage taker (a change of nature) rather than a change of French doctrine.
AQ in Magreb has shown how courageous they are: they take hostage an old man with heart disease and treated him like ####.
But the problematic remains and is expending in this part of Africa.