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Sahel Herald Of the lands where the wind is red Main channel: @departamente Link: @Departament_Feedback_bot
🏳️🇳🇪 Islamists attack military base in Niger
Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM) militants yesterday attacked a military base in Mossipaga, Niger, located on the border with Burkina Faso.
Footage from the attack showed an Ejder Yalcin 4x4 armored vehicle, which had not been seen before. As it later turned out, it was seized by the militants.
The attack killed 7 soldiers and also captured a large number of weapons, including 4 mortars.
The last JNIM attack on military bases in Niger was in late February.
@departamenteng
🇧🇫🏳️Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM) militants arrested by Burkina Faso's armed forces.
They mainly belong to the Fulbe people, who are the core of the group. It is from this group that the main forces are formed.
@departamenteng
🏳️🇲🇷 Mauritanian patrol at work
Against a backdrop of pinking dunes, the silhouettes of 150 men and 400 camels guard the border with Mali. On the side of one of the camels is a screen with a picture from a military drone. This is what the fight against terrorism looks like now in one of the most peaceful countries in the Sahel.
➡️ During a patrol, a team of mechanics found two men hiding in the sands. Suspicious, but not necessarily jihadists - they were taken to a camp for questioning.
‘Our job is to prevent the local tribes from crossing over to the side of the terrorists, as happened in Mali,’ the commander explains.
🏳️🇲🇱 Detentions in Mali
Two JNIM fighters were stopped by the Malian Armed Forces at a cattle market in the village of Banamba. They were then taken to a camp for investigation.
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🇧🇫🏳️Children from «cubs» fire anti-aircraft fire at a Burkina Faso air force plane while taking cover behind a gas station
I don't consider myself a military EXXpert, however such tactics don't seem very rational to me.
@departamenteng
🇧🇫🏳️Here's more footage from Diapaga yesterday. In the video, you can see that the militants seized Mali Armed Forces clothing kits and immediately put them on themselves.
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🇧🇫🏳️Burkina Faso Air Force result on militants during the rollback from Djibo
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🇧🇫⚔️🏳️ Burkina Faso – JNIM Militants Overrun Army Base in Djibo
On May 11, fighters from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) launched a large-scale assault on army positions in the city of Djibo. The attack, one of the most significant in recent months, resulted in the loss of a key military site.
The assault began at dawn from the west, with hundreds of militants targeting the 26th Rapid Response Unit while many soldiers were still asleep. Some troops were killed as they tried to flee.
The jihadists seized the base, torched some equipment, and took the rest — along with captured weapons. They then pushed toward the city center, attacking a hospital, setting fire to medical supply depots, and cutting civilians off from healthcare.
Military aircraft were deployed but withdrew after coming under anti-aircraft fire.
The attack, lasting nearly half a day, left up to 100 civilians and soldiers dead. With counterterror operations focused elsewhere, Djibo — besieged since 2021 — is nearing a critical tipping point.
Via: @departamente
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🇹🇩 Around 40 killed in attack on Chad military base, presidency says
Around 40 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base in Chad's Lake region on Sunday, the central African country's presidency said on Monday.
President Mahamat Idriss Deby launched an operation to track down the assailants, the statement said. It did not name the group responsible for the attack.
The Lake Chad region has been repeatedly attacked by insurgencies including by Islamic State in West Africa and Boko Haram, which erupted in northeast Nigeria in 2009 and spread to the west of Chad.
Chad is an important ally for French and U.S. forces aiming to fight jihadists in the Sahel, which has become the epicentre of global terrorism under attack by factions loyal to al Qaeda and Islamic State.
#Chad
@africaintel
🇧🇫In Burkina Faso, meanwhile, it is claimed that another coup attempt has been thwarted
This time, no direct evidence has been provided. Just more language about a threat from Côte d'Ivoire and accusations of planning and preparing an attack on Mansila.
This example clearly indicates that internal threats to the transitional authorities are being shifted to external actors. Which, by the way, is not the first time.
However, it is not surprising. Against the backdrop of the JNIM attack on Bamako, security measures have been stepped up in Ouagadougou and Niamey, and further measures to reinforce Traoré's shaky authority require justification, which an external enemy fits perfectly.
@departamenteng
🏳️🇲🇱Azawad separatists used a drop drone to attack a Malian Armed Forces base in Goundam, Tombouctou
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🇲🇱🛰 Meanwhile, western OSINT are already recording the accumulation of significant forces in the Gao area, from where the forces will move northwards
The photos are satellite images of the airport on 14 and 25 August. As you can see - a large amount of equipment has already been moved into the area.
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🇲🇱💀❗️French source Wamaps reports that the Malian Armed Forces, backed by PMC Wagner, are preparing to retaliate to the ambush at Ti-n-Zaouâtene.
It says men are being withdrawn from bases in Gao to head north. The increased strikes by UAVs in the area only confirm the plans of the command in Bamako. And strikes on Ti-n-Zaouâtene were also carried out yesterday.
Already in the Ersan area (along the road from Burem to Anefis) and Marat (near Aguelhok) there has been activity by government forces.
But for now it looks more and more like strengthening positions in the north, for on the back of the success, the Azawad separatist may risk attacking army positions in the area.
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🇲🇷🏇On the Mauritanian experience in combating jihadism
Looking at the Egyptian experience, it is worth noting that the authorities in Cairo are not the only ones who have nullified the terrorist threat in the country. The government of Mauritania, which has taken a slightly different path, is also worth noting.
Unlike in Egypt, the fight was not primarily military, but social - through dialogue and concessions to Islamist organizations. Only indirectly did it take place on the battlefield and that more so abroad.
To add a little context: between 2005 and 2011, Mauritania was the most exposed to Islamist organizations. Mauritania was the most exposed country to Islamic terrorism in the Sahel, It was from Mauritanian organisations that Al-Qaeda* in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) emerged.
But since the 2010s, the situation has abruptly subsided - apart from a few small attacks, the country has been calm. So how did this happen?
➡️ First, there was dialogue. While elsewhere the problem was looked for in nationality, belonging to a certain social group, etc., the Mauritanian authorities were trying to find a reason why their citizens were drifting into radicalism.
So they started to recruit mullahs to their side, negotiate amnesty for prisoners, including even the head of the local AQIM cell. Of course, particularly radical organizations were banned.
➡️The second is the structure of the country. Mauritania has a mixed system of sharia and secular law, which is what many Islamists are in favour of. The average Mauritanian who is drawn to fundamentalism has less reason to join one of the branches of the MTO.
On top of that, it's also an Islamic republic with extensive rights for clerics in the country. And also the policy of relative neutrality (non-participation in the fight against jihadism in Mali, at least) didn't create an excuse for Islamists to point bayonets against them as well.
Also - broad freedoms. Fundamentalist media exist quietly in Mauritania and are not blocked by the government. In addition, the country allows foreign groups to move around its territory on the condition that they do not touch each other.
➡️And, of course, ‘a donkey laden with gold’. The first paragraph mentioned amnesty for militants on favourable terms for them, namely they were given money and social services. However, there was a pitfall in this - usually those who were amnestied were not included in the register of citizens, so their children lived under different laws.
One of the documents of negotiations between al-Qaida and Nouakchott was also uncovered - supposedly in 2011 there was an agreement between them to pay money to the tribes recruited to the Islamists. It was never confirmed by either side, except that the number of attacks declined after 2011.
🔻 You can draw your own conclusions from this situation. I think it is obvious that Mali with its secularism and more colourful palette of nationalities will not be able to adopt such a system. Yes and even concessions to the militants by the urban population will be met with hostility.
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@departamenteng
🇪🇬Example of repelling an Islamic State attack on an Egyptian Armed Forces base
As soon as the movements of ISIS personnel were noticed, the army launched howitzer attacks.
Do the Malian Armed Forces have them? Yes, I think they do, but the artillery has not shown itself in the battles. This is mainly due to poor intelligence.
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🏳️🇲🇱 Gossi under siege
A guard post near the post office in Gossi town was attacked by Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM) militants tonight. There were no soldiers at the post, the Islamists seized 1 machine gun and a Kalash gun and burned everything around them.
2 civilians were injured in the shooting, one of them died in hospital.
These events take place against the backdrop of the siege of Gossi town, which was started by the militants 2 weeks ago. It is to be expected that attacks in the area will become increasingly violent, as was the case with Jibo.
@departamenteng
🇧🇫🏳️ For the third day now, militants have been walking quietly through the town of Diapaga in Burkina Faso.
Footage from the captured army base arrived today, where a huge amount of abandoned equipment can be seen. The army has not returned to the township and it is effectively controlled by Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimin(JNIM).
@departamenteng
🇧🇫🏳️ Djibo: Summary
Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM) militants showed captured weapons from the military base in Djibo city. The attackers captured 4 vehicles, 2 mortars, 4 Dushkas, 9 RPGs, 20 PKMs, 206 AK-47s, 8 pistols, 16 boxes of ammunition, 416 magazines, 16 motorcycles and various equipment.
The trophies are not that big considering the scale of the attack. Most likely some of the militants who carried out the trophies were destroyed by Burkina Faso's air force.
@departamenteng
🇧🇫🏳️Children from "cubs" fire anti-aircraft fire at a Burkina Faso air force plane while taking cover behind a gas station
I don't consider myself a military EXXpert, however such tactics don't seem very rational to me.
@departamenteng
🇧🇫🏳️ There was no footage of gunfire, as in the case of Djibo. Although the militants are in the center of the city.
The actual question is - was there any resistance?
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🇧🇫🏳️Islamists attack Diapagha again.
After the March attack, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have not abandoned their attempts to take control of the town of Diapaga in southeastern Burkina Faso.
➡️Вчера reports of a new surge into the devastated town have emerged. Today, videos of militants calmly walking through the town and tearing down a monument with the flag of Russia and members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have circulated online.
The city has been besieged by Islamists since late 2024 and has since been the scene of fierce clashes in the southeast, the most tense section of the country.
@departamenteng
🇧🇫 Horrifying footage from Djibo: market stalls destroyed by militants, a looted hospital and the execution of a militiaman.
The situation is dire. Although control of the city has been regained, after the Islamists rolled back, this does not mean that the worst is over.
❗️ So, one of the influential militant field commanders has advised civilians to leave the city, apparently hinting at future attacks.
The jihadists, of course, have also suffered considerable casualties. But this does not detract from the fact that the army is incapable of dealing with the threats in Soum province.
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🇧🇫⚡- JNIM terrorists launched an attack on the Banwa region, killing 50+ civilians in the town of Ban.
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🇧🇫🏳️ Burkina Faso's Armed Forces continue to liberate national territory
Following a pledge by transitional President Ibrahim Traoré to liberate 30% of the country's territory by the end of next year, fighting is intensifying throughout the territory, similar to what happened in the spring.
🔴The 8 Rapid Reaction Squad, which previously mopped up the Sahel region in the northeast, has now intensified near the town of Kaya. A massacre by militants in Barsalo has prompted increased security in the region and retaliatory operations.
The result was the destruction of a al-Qaida-affiliated JNIM Islamist camp in Ouanobian. The jihadists lost 14 people, and six small arms, RPG-7s and IED components were recovered. Motorcycles were seized from those killed.
Only 1 serviceman was slightly injured during the operation.
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🏳️🇲🇱Militants of the al-Qaida-affiliated group JNIM attacked Bamako
The attack began with an attack on a gendarme school where the attackers burned down the barracks. After the Malian armed forces responded, they withdrew.
The fighting continued near the international airport, where the militants burned several aircraft.
It is unclear at this point whether the Islamists have retreated or are still prowling around the airfield.
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🇲🇱🇨🇳А Meanwhile, the Africa Forum is well underway in China
Mali's transitional president Assimi Goyta met with his counterparts not only from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries, but also from Mauritania, Togo and CAR.
▪️ Strengthening ties of cooperation and good-neighborliness were discussed with each of the heads of state. He also spoke about the establishment of the Confederation of Sahelian States and the issues at stake: collective security in the face of terrorism, diplomacy and development.
It was probably mostly about Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani, the president of Mauritania. His country's territory is used as a rear base for JNIM Islamists and Azawad separatists, which often causes interesting mishaps along the border.
With the Togolese leader pursuing a dual policy, in an attempt to maintain relations with both the AES and the traditional metropolis represented by Paris, the meeting was also obvious.
📌 And interestingly, the meeting also took place with Touadera, the head of the distant Central African Republic.
In this context, it is reasonable to assume that the questions concerned, among other things, the participation of PMC "Wagner" in military operations on the territory of the country. As well as its subsequent replacement by the African Corps of the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation.
🔻 It is interesting to observe how Russia's allies are trying to establish ties between themselves. But at the same time, we should not rule out the Chinese factor, which may undermine some projects of Russian companies in the Sahel.
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🇩🇿🏳️ Algeria's representative to the UN has condemned the Malian Air Force strikes on Ti-n-Zaouâtene
In his speech, he called for the Malian authorities to be condemned for killing 20 civilians in one of the latest strikes on Ti-n-Zaouâtene, near the Algerian border. This is the first response by any state to Azawad in the past year since the conflict began escalating.
📌 There is logic for the Algerian authorities in this - it is straining for them to take in hundreds and now thousands of refugees that the Malian authorities want to evict. Apart from the fact that it may provoke conflict, providing for displaced persons is trivially expensive.
Moreover, the presence of PMC ‘Wagner’ in Mali is a sore subject, as they are considered to be agents of influence of the UAE and other eastern monarchies,
❗️ But in russian media space again remembered that in the ambush of Ti-n-Zaouâtene must be an external actor, which this time turned out to be Algeria. Especially many top leadership figures like Hanoun Ould Ali and Haballa Ag Hamzata have links to Algerian intelligence.
🔻 Only once again it is worth reminding that Algeria's position in the conflict does not go beyond its territory, where it is free to do whatever it wants. Still, even despite its dislike of certain Russian security agencies, it has excellent relations with others. And the ‘apple of discord’ in the form of conflicts with the leadership in Bamako are just trifles.
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🇲🇱🏳️On 25 August, Ti-n-Zaouâtene was again hit by UAV strikes
In general, the purpose of such strikes is to sow panic
And, judging by the footage from the Algerian border, the Malian army is succeeding in evicting the population from Ti-n-Zaouâtene. In addition, the constant calls for an exodus of civilians from the territory of hostilities only confirm this version.
The results are, to put it mildly, inconclusive. Yes, the latest strike killed both mine workers who provide the separatists with money and mostly ordinary supporters.
❗️ But military installations have not been hit. The first answer to the question "why?" is simple - Malian intelligence, or rather its almost complete absence, as well as outreach.
And the Azawadis don't concentrate their forces in quiet times, living a normal life. So there is no difference between combatants and non-combatants, even if they are children.
🔻 As a result - the majority of the population is fleeing to Algeria, little by little leaving in city only those who have not abandoned their weapons. Especially the Algerian side's stance has become more lenient: now their doctors are helping the wounded and more people are allowed across the border than before.
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🇧🇫🇲🇱🏇On the situation at the mines in the Sahel
In the Sahel, gold mines are usually located in the territories of clans that have been taken over by Islamists to protect their wealth. The working conditions in such mines are better than in state-owned mines, but slavery exists.
🔻The related question is who is this gold being sold to? Obviously the nearest neighbours don't need it.
This is where the UAE comes into play and buys a huge portion of the Malian gold, which is not exactly mined by state-owned companies, but rather even illegally and under the supervision of either Azawadian or pro-Alqaeda people.
🔻 Do they specifically sponsor armed groups? To some extent they benefit from it, for the latter agree to any terms, but in reality such gold is trivially cheaper.
And if any of them have a sponsor, it is certainly not in Europe.
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🇪🇬🏴🏇On the Egyptian experience of counter-terrorism
For many years, small Islamist groups have existed in Sinai, including local cells of Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. But they did not find much support. Until they swore allegiance to the Islamic State at its peak in 2014.
Most of the members of these groups were Bedouins who were economically disadvantaged, smugglers and were not averse to joining terrorist groups.
If we talk about the most striking antics, it is, of course, the shooting down of a plane with Russian citizens in 2015, as well as the attack on a mosque in Bir al-Abdah.
And in March 2024, the IS branch in Sinai was ‘closed’, for there was no one left to carry out an attack.
🔻 So how did the Egyptian government manage to crush the extremist uprising?
➡️Firstly, it is a serious and even brutal outreach to the population. If any Bedouin was involved in sponsoring or supporting terrorists, he and his family were condemned to the death penalty and their tribe to marginalisation.
Tens of thousands of people were dispossessed of their land and forcibly relocated. Thankfully, the majority of the population had enough brains to stop engaging in even indirect support of terrorists.
❗️ This method is being tried by the Malian government, which is marginalising the Tuareg population, only the conditions are different from those in Egypt. After all, the Tuaregs can take refuge in other countries, from where they will gain strength and take revenge in a dozen years, as they did in 1992.
➡️The second is banally military superiority. It was harder to recruit militants when the army was spreading them around, and the flow from abroad was decreasing every year.
Then again, let's add that this is again a different situation from the Sahel. UAVs are not game-changers, and the losses (/channel/departamente/4130) of the Sahel Troika armies are really high despite successful operations. The explanation is even simpler - unprofessionalism. (/channel/departamente/4205)
➡️When all sympathetic tribes were expelled, those who went over to the government side received encouragement from the centre.
Again, do we see GATIA or MSA-D somehow being supplied or encouraged by the government? Yes, Ag Gamu became governor of Kidal, and Asharatuman is quite an important figure in Malian politics, but by and large the communities under their charge have not changed that much.
🔻The Egyptian experience in the fight against terrorism in Sinai is very illustrative and some aspects of it the leaders of the Sahel countries want to apply. But they do not take into account the local peculiarities and do the wrong work with the population.
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@departamenteng in collaboration with @medmannews