Detective and specialized agents were deployed on Sunday in the Likoni Canal, in the Kenyan city of Mombasa, after intelligence reports that suggest a possible terrorist attack, the website the-start.co.ke reported.

According to the source, County Commissioner Mohamed Maalim said that the security agents are on maximum alert to prevent any disaster.

“We are in a state of alert and we assure citizens that everything is fine. We are also monitoring all other main facilities in Mombasa, Maalim added.

The commissioner pointed out that each boat will carry at least three armed security agents and many detectives in plain clothes.

A recent intelligence report revealed that the Likoni ferryboat is vulnerable to terrorist attacks by the Somali antigovernment organization Al Shabab, which also operates in Kenya.

Four ferryboats operate in the canal, when traffic is at its peak and two in periods of less traffic, carrying 300,000 people and 5,500 vehicles every day, according to statistics.

plenglish.com

The Nigerian Army has revealed that a commanding officer, three officers and 16 soldiers are still missing in action following an ambush on Nigerian troops by Boko Haram insurgents on Wednesday, 20 July.

The troops were returning from a successful major operation against the insurgents at Gongon village in Alagarno general area of Borno State, when they were ambushed.

During the operation, 16 soldiers and three civilian JTF were wounded while many of the insurgents were killed and their weapons recovered.

Giving these details during a briefing in Maiduguri, the Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Leo Irabor, said the wounded were in stable condition.

He also commiserated with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen AG Olonisakin who lost his cousin in the operation at Kangarwa.

pmnewsnigeria.com/

Fighting broke out for the second day in a town in Mali’s desert north on Friday between pro-government militia fighters and Tuareg rebels, three town residents and a fighter said.

“The sound (of gunfire) is more intense than yesterday. It started up again around 5am this morning,” one resident of Kidal told Reuters, asking not to be named for fear of reprisals from the armed groups.

The violence highlighted the increasing fragility of a UN-backed deal signed a year ago between the government in the southern capital Bamako and northern armed groups that was meant to end a decades-long cycle of uprisings.

Mali’s UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, said Thursday that the fighting was a violation of the ceasefire both groups – the Tuareg separatist Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and pro-government Gatia militia – agreed to as part of the deal.

The sound of gunfire rang out in Kidal, one of northern Mali’s main towns, late on Thursday afternoon, sending residents fleeing indoors for cover as clashes quickly spread.

“We were at the mosque when we heard a few gunshots,” said Ahamadou Thegoum, a Kidal resident. “Fifteen minutes later, they let loose and we heard gunfire practically all over town, steady gunfire and sometimes explosions.”

One young girl was killed in crossfire while a second was injured, according to the father of the dead girl. Another family member had earlier said that both girls had been killed.

A CMA fighter, who asked not to be named, claimed that four Tuareg rebels had died, while 10 Gatia fighters were killed, but the death toll could not be independently verified.

Military helicopters circled above the town during the fighting, he said, though it wasn’t clear if they belonged to Mali’s UN peacekeeping mission or a French force fighting Islamist militants in the arid Sahel region.

Tensions building in Kidal

Kidal is a traditional stronghold of rebels claiming a Tuareg homeland they call Azawad, but the CMA and pro-government Gatia militia had peacefully shared control of Kidal since February.

Tensions have been building over the past few days, however, amid tit-for-tat violence, and both sides reinforced their positions in and around Kidal.

The government of neighbouring Niger attempted to mediate between the groups, and representatives of the pro-Bamako militia and the rebels signed a truce on Sunday.

From Wednesday, CMA fighters occupied Kidal’s main roads and established positions to block Gatia from entering the town centre. One CMA fighter reached by phone in Kidal said Gatia had started Thursday’s clash.

“This morning CMA told the militias to stay where they were and maintain their positions outside of the town, but they tried to force their way in,” he said, asking not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the press.

Gatia leader Fahad Ag Almahmoud rejected responsibility for the violence. “CMA sought to reduce our mobility in Kidal,” he said. “This afternoon one of our brigades was returning from the bush … CMA fighters opened fire at them at close range.”

Islamist militant groups, some with links to al Qaeda, hijacked a Tuareg uprising in 2012 and seized northern Mali until a French-led intervention drove them back a year later.

Mali government declares state of emergency

Last year’s peace agreement signed by the government, its militia allies and the separatists was intended to ease long-standing tensions in the north and allow the army to concentrate on fighting jihadist groups.

However the deal is fraying and new groups are springing up to destabilise the West African nation. On Tuesday Mali’s government declared a nationwide state of emergency.

Islamist militants killed 17 Malian soldiers and wounded 35 others earlier this week when they attacked an army base in the centre of the country, firing on troop positions, burning buildings and pillaging shops.

“They defended their nation with honour and dignity. Today, they are dead, but their country will avenge them,” President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita said at a memorial ceremony for the soldiers in the town of Segou.

france24.com

Somali National Forces (SNA), backed by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops, killed three Al-Shabaab militants during a security operation in Jubba region in southern Somalia on Thursday.

AMISOM Force spokesperson, Joe Kibet told Xinhua over phone that the operation in Buurkoy location was special one and targeted Al-Shabaab militants’ checkpoints in the area.

“Somali National Army and AMISOM troops carried out an operation in Buurkoy location in Lower Jubba region early Thursday. It was a checkpoint for the militants, the joint forces killed three of Al-Shabaab members there,” Kibet said.

The AMISOM spokesman added that there were no casualties on SNA and AMISOM sides during the operation.

The latest security operation comes amid reports of airstrikes which were conducted in Bula-guduud area, 30 kilometers north of Kismayo, the administrative of Jubbaland at the same region.

The American special jets strategically bombarded Al-Shabaab positions enabling security forces to overrun the militant group’s compounds.

The insurgents later cut off Wirkoy Bridge near Buuloguduud to hinder the advancement of the security forces. The militants reportedly suffered heavy casualties.

The locals said the insurgents later detonated explosives on a local bridge in a bid to cut off transport. No details on the number of casualties on both sides have been established.

The joint forces have stepped up their onslaught on Al-Shabaab militant group which has been targeting the AU and the SNA bases including major hotels and eateries in Mogadishu and its environs.

xinhuanet.com

Authorities say gunmen have killed at least 10 soldiers and wounded 38 in an attack on an army camp in Mali.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack early Tuesday in the city of Nampala.

An official with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali said the attackers arrived on dozens of pickup trucks and motorcycles and took control of the city before leaving.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly about issues regarding Mali’s army.

A Malian soldier confirmed the deaths but called the toll provisional because not all soldiers had been accounted for.

ap.org

Last February, Chief of the Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance said Canada “will certainly be involved somehow” in Libya.

“I don’t know whether we will be involved militarily, but we will certainly be involved somehow, because Libya sits at a crossroads of some very important and dangerous things that are happening in the world,” Vance said.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan also said Canada could join a coalition in Libya to fight ISIS. However, in a conference call last Wednesday, Sajjan confirmed his government was considering a number of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions but no further details were given.

Considering the fact that UN peacekeeping missions are not aimed at taking part in offensive operations, Canada will most likely not join a coalition to “fight” ISIS.

However, last Thursday, Lieutenant General Paul Wynnyk became the commander of the Canadian Army and quickly stated the Canadian Army could possibly deploy troops in Africa. As a matter of fact, according to Wynnyk, a deployment to Africa was imminent.

Although many regions in Africa would benefit from having Canadian soldiers on the ground, Mali has been mentioned on many occasions. When the French government deployed troops to drive out Islamic extremists in early 2014, Canada contributed by sending CC-177 Globemaster III strategic lifters.

France has been requesting Canada’s aid to take a major role in the UN peacekeeping mission after its intervention in Mali, according to documents obtained by CBC.

Based on the fact that the French government has a high number of troops deployed domestically to counter recent terror attacks, President Francois Hollande most likely turned to Canada due to its past logistical participation, and the fact that many Canadian soldiers can speak French — one of the main spoken languages in Mali.

According to Walter Dorn, a professor at the Canadian Force Staff College in Kingston, Canada could supply up to 1,000 soldiers to a UN mission. Dorn believes Canada could sustain a deployed contingent of more than 1,000 troops for many years.

The Canadian Forces will be stretched out and with more than $3.7 billion in slashed military spending until 2020, deployed troops will most likely have logistical issues and equipment problems. With different missions in different parts of the world, the logistical branch of the Canadian Forces will have to pull miracles to keep soldiers well-supplied and in fighting shape.

That said, with a deployed contingent in Ukraine, Poland and soon Latvia, Canada will most likely draft an option to involve in Special Operations Forces elements.

Could CANSOFCOM deploy in Mali?

Due to a significant number of French troops deployed in Mali, the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) could very well deploy to the African country with a training mission in mind.

CANSOFCOM could assist in the rebuilding of the security sector, one of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) main focus.

The Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) has been actively taking part in Exercise Flintlock, an annual exercise in Africa. Malian soldiers have taken part in Exercise Flintlock in the past, according to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

This exercise gave CSOR good interoperability experience with African soldiers, as well as with NATO allies currently participating in a number of operations on the continent.

“Exercise Flintlock is designed to foster regional cooperation to enable our African partners to stabilize regions of North and West Africa, reducing sanctuary and support for violent extremist organizations. Exercise Flintlock provides increased interoperability, counterterrorism, and combat skills training while creating a venue for regional engagement among all TSCTP nations.”

Yet, if Canada agrees on sending UN peacekeeping troops in Mali to relieve French troops, CANSOFCOM will not play a major role in the West African country.

The Canadian Forces presently have troops deployed with the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of South Sudan.

huffingtonpost.ca

The SITE Intelligence Group says al-Qaida’s North Africa branch has reported the death of a Tunisian commander in Mali.

The SITE Intelligence Group quoted a statement from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, saying Abu Bakr al-Shinqiti was killed during a raid on a Malian army barracks near the border with Burkina Faso. The statement did not specify the date or location of the raid, nor did it report any Malian casualties.

On July 10, an official in Mali’s Koro region near the Burkina Faso border said unidentified gunmen had killed two Malian soldiers in a raid on a military checkpoint.

ynetnews.com

Somali security forces and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops have arrested 10 Al-Shabaab militants and recaptured four bases during an operation conducted in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia.

Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Mohamed Abdi Hayir told journalists in Mogadishu on Sunday that the Horn of Africa has stepped up efforts of local security forces and AMISOM to defeat terrorist groups in the country.

Hayir said the security operation which was conducted on Saturday evening was very successful in eliminating terror threats in the country.

“Our national army, accompanied by AMISOM conducted operations and recaptured four Al-Shabaab bases, including an illegal detention center and administrative building in Beled Amin, Lower Shabelle region of Somalia,” the minister said.

He noted that the security forces will continue their operation in order to eliminate the threat posed by terrorists groups in Somalia.

“The security operation resulted in our security forces arresting nearly 10 suspected al-Shabaab terrorists,” Hayir added.

The minister urged the security forces to continue helping needy people during such operations in the country.

“Somalia forces have retaken the buildings and disrupted Al-Shabaab’s operations with no resistance. Our forces also conducted awareness and humanitarian needs meetings with nearby village elders and passed out much needed medical supplies to the community,” he added.

The minister said the illegal detention station in Beled Amin was used to terrorize and illegally tax the people of the town.

“Al-Shabaab works to strike fear in the local people, yet they run in fear of the Somalia National Army (SNA) and AMISOM. This is definitely a victory for our forces and for the people of Lower Shabelle. This yet again proves that the SNA is a strong military force prepared to take the fight to Al-Shabaab,” Hayir said.

xinhuanet.com

Violent protests that were met with deadly force in Mali this week are the latest sign a peace pact between rival ethnic groups is at risk of unraveling, threatening to plunge the nation back into the chaos that made it a launchpad for jihadi attacks.

It has been a year since Tuareg-led separatist rebels signed the accord with the Malian government after a conflict that destabilized this West African country.

The lawlessness created by the fighting allowed militant Islamist groups, including al-Qaida’s regional wing, to spread, seize control of the desert north, and launch attacks against targets in Mali and its neighbors.

The U.N.-backed peace deal was supposed to give the government space to tackle this threat. Any signs it could fail will sound alarm bells in Washington and other Western capitals, which have long feared Mali could became a haven for militants to launch jihadi attacks around the world.

Few of the signatories to the accord seem satisfied with it, with all sides dragging their feet on implementation and blaming each other.

No ‘gains’ seen

“Many things were done on paper and commissions have been set up, but people on the ground haven’t enjoyed the gains,” said Mohamoudou Djeri Maiga, vice president of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), a Tuareg separatist movement that fought to establish an ethnic homeland among the sand dunes and oases of northern Mali.

Anger is also growing among those excluded from its spoils, especially youth groups who backed the state in the conflict but feel they have ended up with nothing.

The tensions have spilled over into violence, with sporadic and deadly clashes taking place in some areas that have pitted groups who backed the government in the conflict against groups linked to the Tuareg and the Arab rebels who fought with them.

In the most overt sign of discontent about the peace deal yet, thousands of protesters gathered Tuesday, burning tires and pelting police with rocks, to voice anger at interim authorities — including former combatants who, under the deal, are supposed to take office this week in Gao and other northern regions.

The army responded by opening fire, killing three people and wounding 33.

“At this point no one is satisfied with the implementation of the agreement,” the head of Mali’s U.N. peacekeeping mission, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, told Reuters late last month. “The parties signed the agreement, certainly, but each of them has a vision of what they want.”

Concerned about the lack of progress, representatives from the U.N. Security Council traveled to northern Mali in March to push for parties to put the agreement into action.

Anger at armed groups

French forces intervened in the former colony in 2013 to drive back Islamist fighters who had hijacked the Tuareg insurgency and seized Mali’s north, at one point even threatening the capital, Bamako.

A U.N. peacekeeping mission was then deployed, but militants have exploited continued instability to regroup and carry out a wave of attacks against in Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.

Yet Tuesday’s protests showed that, even if deal gets implemented, it risks igniting violence among Malians who feel disenfranchised by it.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, mindful of the fragility of the accord and the widespread discontent, gave a special televised address Thursday in which he expressed “deep regret” about the killings at the protests.

“The incidents are regrettable and could have been avoided,” he said, but added that the unrest was “an illustration of the poor understanding of the peace deal. It shows we need to work harder for all sections of society to have ownership of it.”

If armed, ‘you get a role’

Many Malian young people don’t think they have misunderstood anything.

“It is clear the agreement means that if you are not armed you get nothing, but if you have weapons you a get a role,” said Issouf Alhousseini, local head of the Young Patriots of Gao, a vigilante movement that counts among its members many of the government-allied Songhai ethnic group who now feel alienated.

“The Arabs and Tuaregs have weapons, so they get included. The government should have given us a place, too,” he said, showing how the divisions that tore Mali apart still linger.

Amadou Sarr, another Songhai vigilante leader, even suggested that some youths would seek to acquire weapons in order to trade them in for demobilization money.

And as insecurity worsens in northern Mali, economic decline has set in. The tourists who used to visit Timbuktu, a medieval Islamic city that grew fabulously rich off the trade in gold and slaves crossing the sands of the Sahara, have never come back.

voanews.com