Mali mainly, 2012 coup, drugs & more

[davidbfpo]

The BBC:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8533195.stm

A French hostage who was being held by al-Qaeda's North African wing in Mali has been freed days after four militants were released from jail. The group had threatened to kill Pierre Camatte, abducted from a hotel near the border with Niger on 25 November, if its four members were not set free. Mali's authorities said the four had served their sentences and were due to be freed.
But their release sparked outrage in Algeria and Mauritania.

French President Sarkozy meets French ex-hostage in Mali:http://af.reuters.com/article/topNew...61O01G20100225

[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