Intelligence. Comprehensive approach, analysis and security capabilities.Mali-Sahel Region
Rabia Golden
11/01/2021 – ItaMilRadar reported that a NATO Global Hawk RQ-4D “Phoenix” took off on Friday morning bound for southern Europe, heading towards Libya for a surveillance mission.
NATO recently carried out a similar mission over the Gulf of Sirte and that Friday mission appears to achieve similar goals, according to ItaMilRadar.
Libya Observer
Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali)
by Hilal Kaplan Daily Sabah
02/10/2020 – Mapping the Turkish Military’s Expanding Footprint » was the title of a study featured last year in Bloomberg and several other prominent publications. In light of recent developments, the Eastern Mediterranean and Azerbaijan have also been added to the map. The article written by Selcan Hacaoğlu starts by saying that the Turkish military hasn’t been as effective in as many areas globally since the Ottoman Empire, and explains how it has riveted its political influence with its military presence in Syria, Iraq, Qatar and Somalia and as a peacekeeping force in Afghanistan and the Balkans. Continuer à lire … « Mapping the Turkish military’s expanding footprint »
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.
, DOD NEWS
US DEPT OF DEFENSE
Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali)
28/08/2020 – Turkey is blocking the Western military alliance NATO in the enforcement of an arms embargo against Libya decided by the UN. The Erdoğan regime prevents NATO support for Operation Sea-Guardian to monitor the embargo. Continuer à lire … « Turkey blocks NATO over UN arms embargo against Libya »
07/08/2020 – Pictures circulating on social media suggest Russia may have deployed its S-400 air defence system in Libya, an analyst writing for Forbes said on Thursday.
Images posted online appear to show a large radar and vertical missile tubes near Ras Lanuf in eastern Libya. If they are part of Russia’s S-300 or S-400 system, “it could help tip the scales in the favour of Russia and its local allies against Turkish-backed forces,” defence analyst H I Sutton said. Continuer à lire … « Russia may have deployed S-400 air defence system in Libya »
20/07/2020 – Turkey deployed missile launchers and artillery to Libya to support the Government of National Accord (GNA) in a looming battle for the key strategic Mediterranean city of Sirte, Milliyet newspaper reported on Sunday. Continuer à lire … « Turkey sends missiles to Libya from Syria for key battle – report »
17/07/2020 – Ankara supports the Government of National Accord, led by Fayez as-Sarraj, that controls the west of Libya, and Cairo supports the House of Representatives, which, in turn, controls the east of the country, and backs Libyan National Army / Khalifa Haftar.
The Sirte-El-Jufra axis became, on the one hand, the border of this division to the east and west, on the other, a red line potentially capable of causing a military clash between Turkey and Egypt… And Germany, which organized the Berlin Conference, insists on so that the Sirte-El Jufra axis becomes a « demilitarized zone ». It is clear that this will mean the acceptance of the de facto partition of Libya. Continuer à lire … « Why Erdogan needs Russian presence in Libya? »
14/07/2020 – Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey confirmed the loan, plus a three-week training package, for elite soldiers of the Estonian Armed Forces.
The loan will equip Estonian troops as they join the international fight against Islamic terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa, a further example of the UK’s strong partnership with one of its closest NATO allies. Continuer à lire … « Mali : UK loans Estonia four Jackal vehicles to support counter-terror mission in Mali »
09/07/2020 – Turkey and the U.K. are in agreement on a diplomatic solution in Libya, Turkey’s foreign minister said on July 8.
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who is paying a one-day working visit to London, said Turkey thinks the only solution in Libya conflict is a political one, adding: “We need to give pace to this political process under the roof of the U.N.” Continuer à lire … « UK, Turkey in agreement on political solution in Libya: Çavuşoğlu »
Sahel-Elite (Bamako-Mali) 