The first Boeing C-17 Globemaster III for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) lifts off from Long Beach Airport, Calif., Nov. 7 on its maiden flight. Boeing will deliver the first of four Australian C-17s in late November. After a welcome ceremony in Canberra, Australias capital city, the RAAFs first C-17 will arrive at RAAF Base Amberley, near Brisbane, in early December.

A crew from 99 Squadron have been assisting French troops in sub-Saharan Africa by delivering supplies to the Op Barkhane counter-insurgency efforts in Niger by C-17 Globemaster.

The aircraft delivered several pallets of cargo to Niamey airport in Niger over the weekend, helping to keep the 3,000 strong French forces supplied during their on-going efforts against Islamist insurgents, like reported by defencetalk.com.

Op Barkhane is a long-running French anti-insurgent operation that started in August 2014 with the aim of assisting the African G5 nations against terrorist organisations including Al-Mourabitoun, AQIM and Ansar Dine.

In March 2016, during the UK-France Summit in Paris, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced the provision of monthly strategic airlift support in the form of C17 flights picking up freight from France and delivering it to the sub-Saharan region.

The French force in Africa consists of around 4,000 troops operating alongside 200 armoured vehicles, 20 helicopters, 6 fighter planes and 3 drones as well as logistical supply in-theatre being provided by two German C-160s.

The main focus is in Mali, Chad, Niger and the Ivory Coast with some special forces in Burkina Faso with operations across the region being coordinated from N’Djamena and Niamey for supply and intelligence purposes.

Captain Guillaume Courot, Armee de l’air / French Air Force media representative in Niger said: “The fight against violent extremist organisations is an on-going effort that will require global collaboration if we are to succeed.”

“Op Barkhane is a prime example of two allied countries providing resources to maximum effect in the support of our allies in Africa through a mixture of medical, diplomatic, economic and military assistance.”

Flight Lieutenant Sven Meldrum, 99 Sqn Pilot of Op Barkhanes C17, said: “The Op Barkhane tasking is tremendously important and highlights the importance of the RAF’s strategic heavy lift capabilities on a global scale. Working alongside the French on bilateral logistic capabilities reinforces the strong relationship we enjoy with them. It is extremely rewarding for us as operators and we continue to support our allies in this critical mission against sub-Saharan insurgency.”

Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/raf-transports-french-army-equipment-to-mali-for-counter-insurgency-operations-69109/#ixzz4YetVozp4

Malian Minister of Security and Civil Protection Salif Traore reiterated, Monday in Algiers, his country’s willingness to strengthen security partnership with Algeria, and to draw on its experience in the fight against terrorism.

“We have a common enemy, terrorism. Algeria has an extensive experience in this field. The main reason of my visit (…) is to examine means to further strengthen security cooperation,” said Traore following his discussions with Minister of Maghreb Affairs, African Union and Arab League Abdelkader Messahel.

“We seek to strengthen our security cooperation with Algeria as part of South-South partnership,” he added.

Traore said that he discussed with Messahel security situation and the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in Mali, resulting from Algiers process.

He also paid tribute to Algeria “for its continuous support to the Malian people as well as for the stability of their country.”

In this regard, the Malian minister recalled the success of the High Level Monitoring Committee’s meeting, held Friday in Bamako, under the chairmanship of Algeria.

“The meeting allowed us to reach decisions, which I hope would help us achieve our objectives rapidly,” he said.

Mali’s Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, signed in the first stage in May 2015 and in the second stage in June 2015, by all Malian parties in Bamako, was achieved after five rounds of inter-Malian dialogue, launched in July 2014 under the international mediation, with Algeria as the key mediator.

In reply to a question on the last meeting of G5 Sahel, during which Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita underlined the need to advance in the achievement of the “Sahel Defence” initiative, Traore said that this initiative aims at examining thoroughly the scourge of terrorism.

“For an effective fight against terrorism, we must first rely on ourselves,” he explained, adding that this “initiative is not exclusive, but it is to be added to many other actions.”

Move took place in Dialoubé, a jihadist base in the Mopti region in the centre of the country

Malian security that moved against jihadists in the centre of the country over the weekend claim to have arrested some 20 suspected Islamist fighters and killed one person.

Five years ago, al-Qaeda seized power in Mali’s second city Timbuktu after hijacking an ethnic Tuareg rebellion in the country’s Saharan north. They grabbed large swathes of land and threatened the capital, Bamako, like reported by ibtimes.co.uk.

France’s 2013 military intervention and UN peacekeeping missions have since returned control of the region to the Malian government, but Islamist groups continue to operate across the vast desert areas in the north.

Several units of the security and defence forces of Mali participated in the recent operation which took place in the locality of Dialoubé, considered a jihadist base in the Mopti region in the middle of the country.

Until the sweep, Dialoubé was under control of the extremists led by radical preacher Amadou Koufa, Malian authorities had no access to the area and schools were closed. Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported the locality of Dialoubé was closed off for 48 hours and mosques evacuated.

Also known as Amadou Diallo, Koufa was a leader of the Macina Liberation Front (MLF), an Islamist extremist group that came to international attention in 2015. MLF is an affiliate of Ansar Dine, a Tuareg jihadist front group for al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM.

A Malian military source is quoted by RFI as saying: “It was from the village of Dialoubé that the same jihadists were carrying out operations against the Malian army, as well as elected officials or religious leaders who openly advocated moderate Islam.”

Officials claim to have uncovered weapons caches, seized motorcycles and arrested around twenty suspected jihadists as suspected terrorists fled. Officially, the army forces said they killed a Dialoubé resident, who menacingly refused to stop at a checkpoint.

Several people are currently reported as “missing”. Authorities are yet to comment.

Al-Qaeda-linked groups have recently been moving into previously untouched parts of Africa, as Islamist terrorists seek to gain exposure in the Sahel, and neighbouring Burkina Faso, with which Mali shares a porous border .

Somalia’s breakaway northern territory of Somaliland has said the United Arab Emirates can establish a military base in its territory, according to ap.org.

The Emirati government in January submitted a formal application seeking permission from the Somaliland government to open a military base in the port town of Berbera.

The parliament of Somaliland on Sunday approved the UAE plan. The plan is controversial and the neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Djibouti are opposed to it, according to local reports.

In Sunday’s vote 144 lawmakers were in favor of the military base, two voted against and two abstained. Nine others opposed to the base shouted against President Ahmed Silanyo and were led out of the chamber by soldiers. Silanyo had spoken in favor of the base, saying it would create jobs in Somaliland.

The UAE government is planning to establish a naval base with warships that would be used to attack Shia Houthi fighters fighting the government in Yemen, according to a Somaliland official who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press.

Speaking at the parliament session, Somaliland’s president said that the military base would benefit Somaliland most and help create jobs.

The plan follows a multimillion dollar, 30-year contract for UAE’s international ports operator, DP World, to manage Somaliland’s largest port, Berbera.

The former British protectorate of Somaliland declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 and has succeeded in establishing peace and stability. But no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.

The federal government issued a warning to Nigerians of the subterranean plan by Muslim Brotherhood Cell in the country to launch terrorist attack. The group is an affiliate of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram and its Nigerian cell is allegedly based in Kogi State, in North-central Nigeria, like reported by thisdaylive.com.

A statement issued by Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said some members of the group had fought along Islamic State in Libya and were planning to acquire bomb-making chemicals and high-calibre weapons to per- petrate acts of terror, including attacks on banks, arms depots and prisons.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has voiced concern about an escalation in the fighting between Government and opposition forces in the west bank of the River Nile in the African country’s north.

Fighting has reached what the head of UNMISS, David Shearer, described as “worrying proportions,” according to a statement issued by the Office of Spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping operation, like reported by ekklesia.co.uk.

“What began with an exchange of fire between SPLA [the Sudan People’s Liberation Army] and Aguelek opposition forces, has expanded geographically”, the statement said, noting that military resupplies have since been observed arriving in the area.

Military operations on the west bank of the Nile River are taking place in an area where people, predominantly from the Shilluk ethnic group live, forcing people out of their homes. The town of Wau Shilluk is now reported to be deserted. Humanitarian workers have been evacuated and aid is not being provided, the statement added.

On 8 February 2017, UNMISS received reports of hostilities between the two sides in Owachi and Tonga, Panyinkang County.

Meanwhile, Mr Shearer today returned to the South Sudanese capital, Juba, from a two-day field visit to Bentiu and Leer, two towns which have been among the most affected by the country’s conflict, according to a separate statement issued  by the spokesperson’s office.

In Bentiu, Mr Shearer met state government officials, as well as internally displaced people who are living in the largest protection of civilians site in the country. In Leer, he visited the mission’s temporary operating base to assess UNMISS’ success in mounting robust patrols which push the mission’s presence deep into the field.

He held discussions with local officials and also took the opportunity to travel to an opposition-controlled area to meet with pro-Machar representatives so he could hear all shades of opinion on how to facilitate humanitarian assistance and advance the peace process, the statement said.

The local opposition told Mr Shearer that they support the current localised cessation of hostilities and remain in a defensive position which they hope will encourage the return of humanitarian agencies to Leer.

Both the local authorities and the opposition praised the UN for its efforts to facilitate communications between them. Mr Shearer heard that they both recognise that an inclusive national dialogue will assist the peace process, the statement added.

South Sudan has faced ongoing challenges since a political face-off between President Salva Kiir and his then former Vice-President Riek Machar erupted into full blown conflict between forces loyal to each in December 2013. The crisis has produced one of the world’s worst displacement situations with immense suffering for civilians.

Despite the August 2015 peace agreement that formally ended the war, conflict and instability have also spread to previously unaffected areas.

Nigerian soldiers on Tuesday disarmed two suicide bombers who were strapped with explosives killing one and saving the others life. Police said they were believed to be prepared by Boko Haram extremists to attack the northeastern city of Maiduguri, like reported by cbsnews.com.

After being ordered to halt by two soldiers who were on guard duty, the two females whom witnesses believe to be as young as 18 years old continued to move towards a gas station. Soldiers then shot and killed one of the women, while the second then surrendered.

Both were wearing explosive jackets but were disarmed by the soldiers according to police spokesman Victor Isuku.

Nigerian troops and self-defence civilian fighters have continued to tackle extremist behaviour. Increasing their securities to cities and towns including body searches outside popular locations like markets and mosques. Still dozens have been killed in recent bombings.

Boko Haram has used scores of women and girls as young as 7 as suicide bombers, raising fears that the extremists are turning some of their thousands of kidnap victims into weapons.

The incident occurred on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram and headquarters of the military campaign to curb the seven-year Islamic uprising that has killed more than 20,000 people and left 2.6 million homeless.

More than 120,000 Nigerians likely will suffer “catastrophic” famine-like conditions caused by Boko Haram’s Islamic uprising, among 11 million confronting severe food shortages this year, according to a new U.N. report.

“Trends show that food security and nutrition are worsening,” it says. Some “8.7 million people are expected to be in crisis: 2 million in emergency and 121 000 in famine conditions, bringing the total number of severely food-insecure people to 11 million.”

U.N. agencies have reported that children already are dying in that region and more than 500,000 face death if they don’t get help.

4 security guards and 2 militants were killed in the attack, while one of the terrorists managed to escape

At least four security guards were killed after members of the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab attacked a hotel in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia. The attack comes just hours ahead of the African nation’s crucial presidential vote, like reported by ibtimes.co.uk.

Two assailants were also shot and killed in the onslaught, a senior Somali security official told Reuters. The militants entered the hotel – frequented by foreigners – early on Wednesday (8 February) by taking down four guards outside the facility.

“Three al-Shabaab fighters stormed the International Village Hotel this morning. Four guards and two of the attackers died in the fighting. Fortunately, the attackers did not enter the rooms. The fighting took place inside the compound. A third fighter escaped and we are pursuing him. All the people in the hotel are safe,” the governor of Bari region, Yusuf Mohamed was quoted as saying.

Usually southern parts of Somalia are targeted by militants who intend to uproot the government and displace the African Union forces to establish a Sharia-ruled state. Such assaults are rarer in northern parts of the country.

Although the government has launched staunch counter-terrorism measures against the al-Shabaab insurgency, militants manage to enter the region and mount fresh attacks.

The latest attack comes as 329 newly-elected parliamentarians are set to decide (on Wednesday) whether President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud should continue for a second term or his rivals would be freshly nominated. Security has also been beefed up especially in capital Mogadishu in the run-up to the vote.