Defence – Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali)

Morocco – Rabat Hosts 11th Morocco-US Defense Consultative Committee Session

By Yahia Hatim / MWN

Morocco and the US today held the 11th meeting of the joint Defense Consultative Committee (DCC). The meeting took place in Rabat at the headquarters of the National Defense Administration.

Morocco’s Minister Delegate for National Defense Administration, Abdellatif Loudyi, co-chaired the session with the US Under-Secretary of Defense in charge of Political Affairs, Anthony Tata. Continuer à lire … « Morocco – Rabat Hosts 11th Morocco-US Defense Consultative Committee Session »

Nigerien C-130 arrives home from the United States

Author: Guy Martin | Defence Web

12/01/2021 – Niger’s Air Force has officially taken delivery of a C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from the United States.

It was accepted in a ceremony on 4 January at Air Base 101 in Niamey attended by the United States Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, Ambassador Eric Whitaker, Nigerian Minister of National Defence Issoufou Katambe, and Nigerien Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Salifou Mody. Continuer à lire … « Nigerien C-130 arrives home from the United States »

Israel Shipyards begins construction of OPV-45 vessels for African country

Written by Guy Martin |Defence Web

12/01/2021 – Israel Shipyards has launched construction of the first of two OPV-45 offshore patrol vessels destined for an undisclosed African country.

The company made the announcement in mid-December, saying the vessels will be delivered to an African Navy within the next two years. Continuer à lire … « Israel Shipyards begins construction of OPV-45 vessels for African country »

Second Nigerian Air Force Mi-171E inducted

Written by Guy Martin

08/01/2021 – The December event was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Defence Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd); the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; and the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, as well as other dignitaries. Continuer à lire … « Second Nigerian Air Force Mi-171E inducted »

Mali – New EDF contingent starts Mali anti-insurgency operation service

22/12/2020- An Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) platoon newly-slated for the French-led counter-insurgency Operation Barkhane has largely arrived in the West African country of Mali, Baltic News Service reports.

The bulk of the BKN-08 Estpla personnel arrived in the city of Gao, where the EDF has been based for several years, while Maj. Vjatseslav Senin relieved Maj. Argo Sibul of command, as per schedule, the defense ministry says.

Maj. Senin said that in cooperating with its allies, the EDF is boosting the security of not only the local populace, but also, ultimately, Europe, and with it, Estonia.

He said: « The main group of the infantry platoon arrived today and is about to achieve initial combat readiness in a few hours. BKN-08 Estpla will start performing its duties in a few days already. »

Operation Barkhane as a whole inolves several of the Sahel nations, many of them former French colonies, and thus a vast swathe of territory, and is also focused on combating human trafficking and terrorism.

Estonia’s rationale for taking part primarily revolves around a trade-off; helping to secure the EU’s southern approaches in Operation Barkhane and other initiatives in return for the presence of both the EU and NATO in Estonia, at Tapa and Ämari and with it the securing of the union’s eastern flank.

Maj. Senin expressed his gratitude to the previous contingent for a seamless handover procedure, wishing them a safe trip back home and a happy time with family during the upcoming holidays.

Junior Warrant Officer Janek Pent from BKN-08 Espla said concurred that the takeover of responsibilities and duties from the outgoing platoon had gone smoothly.

He said: « We went on patrol with the previous platoon three times and received a very good overview of our area of responsibility and the environment. The fact that all squad leaders have participated in the operation Barkhane and are familiar with the area of responsibility helped a lot; in addition, we have a detailed overview of the other tasks of our platoon, which are guarding of the base and rapid response to emergencies. The main unit just arrived, we will achieve tentative combat capability in a few hours and full combat capability in a few days. »

Gao, on the banks of the River Niger, is temporary home to over 1,500 troops from several countries involved in Operation Barkhane, with the EDF component tasked with patrolling, base protection and manning of a rapid response unit.

ERR News

Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali) | Photo: EDF member from a previous rotation (Espla-30) on patrol in Gao, Mali. Source: mil.ee

Morocco Upgrades Legal Tools to Combat Money Laundering, Terrorism Fiancing

By Taha Mebtoul

02/10/2020 – Morocco’s Minister of Justice Mohamed Ben Abdelkader said on Thursday that Morocco is ready to upgrade its judicial and institutional tools to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

The minister’s declaration took place at a meeting with the National ِAssociation of Notaries under the theme, “The role of justice in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.” Continuer à lire … « Morocco Upgrades Legal Tools to Combat Money Laundering, Terrorism Fiancing »

Esper reaffirms close security ties between US, Morocco

02/10/2020 Rabat – US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper signed a military cooperation deal Friday with Morocco, his final stop on a Maghreb tour aimed at beefing up the fight against terrorism and Islamic extremists in war-torn the Sahel and helping reach a settlement in Libya. Continuer à lire … « Esper reaffirms close security ties between US, Morocco »

Tunisia : U.S., Tunisia Sign Road Map for Defense Cooperation

01/10/2020 – Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper and Tunisian Defense Minister Ibrahim Bartagi agreed on a road map for defense cooperation during meetings in the capital city of Tunis.

The road map discussed yesterday charts a 10-year course for cooperation between the two countries.

Tunisia is a major non-NATO ally of the United States and already works with the Defense Department on many shared interests and concerns. The agreement will advance these shared security interests, said a U.S. defense official traveling with the secretary.

The road map recognizes the importance of the U.S.-Tunisian relationship in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Tunisia is a « security exporter » in the region, participating in many exercises and cooperating with other nations in security matters.

Terrorism and threats from violent extremist organizations are always a danger in the region, and Tunisia is intimately involved in looking for solutions to the migrant crisis. Esper said he is impressed by the Tunisians’ efforts to enhance their capabilities against terrorists, but also to promote stability and security on the African continent.

« The road map is a shared understanding of where our shared priorities are, » the defense official said speaking on background. « It talks about shared objectives, shared interests and shared threats. These are areas where we can work together. »

The road map took two years to negotiate, and it is a clear-eyed look at the relationship and suggests ways to close capability gaps. « We both want to improve [Tunisia’s] military capabilities and training to improve [U.S. and Tunisian] interoperability. »

Some of the shared interests include freedom of navigation, intelligence sharing, humanitarian operations and disaster relief, the official said.

The official would not speak specifically on what gaps the nations see in their military capabilities, but spoke of gaps that African nations, in general, experience — airlift, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance shortages and the like.

The 10-year road map is a relatively new program. It allows the nations to begin the planning and funding cycles in such a way as to build incrementally. The official said this may be a blueprint for negotiations with other nations in Africa and elsewhere.

BY JIM GARAMONE, DOD NEWS

US DEPT OF DEFENSE

Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali)

Algeria And Tunisia Strongly In Support Of Political Solution To Libyan Crisis

01/10/2020 – Tunisian Media sources said Algeria and Tunisia were united in the need to continue efforts to push the political solution to the crisis in Libya, away from foreign interventions. Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Bugadoum said after a meeting with President Qeis Saed said he had briefed the President on the talks he had with his Counterpart Othman Al Jrindi. Bugadoum said he had the opportunity to listen to the vision of President Saed for the situation in the region and the challenges particularly in Libya.

LANA

Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali)

U.S. defense chief’s rare Algeria visit points to Sahel region threats

Algiers-Reuters

01/10/2020 U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper made a rare visit to Algeria on Thursday for talks with the president about war-torn Libya and the troubled Sahel region to the south of the Sahara.

oth countries are alarmed by the threat posed by Islamist militant groups in North Africa and the Sahel, and Algeria is weighing a more active military role against them outside its own borders.

They held “talks on Libya and the Sahel and both parties agreed to maintain cooperation and coordination,” a statement from Algeria’s presidency said.

Esper’s visit is the first by a U.S. Defense Secretary to Algeria since Donald Rumsfeld’s in 2006 and he is also the most senior American official yet to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Tebboune took office in December after last year’s mass protests led the army to push his predecessor Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step down after 20 years in power.

The new president has proposed changes to the constitution aimed at mollifying the opposition protest movement, but the reforms would also give the army new powers to intervene in neighbouring states.

“Mark Esper wants to discuss the Algerian army’s possible role in the region once the new constitution is passed as it allows peace-keeping operations overseas,” a Western diplomat in Algeria familiar with the matter told Reuters.

An Algerian source said the talks were expected to focus on Libya, where nine years of chaos after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi have created space for militants, and Mali, where French troops are trying to help quell an Islamist insurgency.

“Algeria has an influence in Mali. It showed it can help. The Americans understood that French military intervention did not curb terrorism,” a senior Algerian security source, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

“As for Libya, it is well known that Algeria maintains good ties with all the players including tribes and personalities,” the senior source told Reuters.

REUTERS

Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali)