Militants from Russia's African Corps committing atrocities in Mali

"Militants from Russia's African Corps are committing numerous killings, rapes and other crimes in the African country of Mali. These fighters, subordinated to Russia's Defense Ministry, have replaced the Wagner Private Military Company, once a powerful Russian paramilitary formation used in covert overseas operations.
According to the refugees, the African Corps uses the same tactics as Wagner. Two refugees

showed video footage of villages burned by "white men". Two others said they had found the bodies of their relatives with their livers and kidneys missing, something that had previously been reported in connection with Wagner's activities.
"It's a scorched-earth policy. The soldiers speak to no one. Anyone they see, they shoot. No questions, no warning. People don't even know why they are being killed," said a Malian village chief who fled.
AP noted that the military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have turned from Western allies to Russia for help in fighting militants linked to al-Qaeda or Islamic State.
When the African Corps replaced Wagner six months ago, civilians hoped the brutality would decrease. The United Nations says they have suffered abuses by all sides in the conflict. But refugees have spoken about a new reign of terror by the African Corps.
AP gained access to the Mauritanian border, where thousands of Malians have fled in recent months due to intensified fighting. The agency spoke to 34 refugees who described indiscriminate killings, abductions and sexual violence. Most of them spoke on condition of anonymity.
"They are the same men, paid by the government, and continue the massacres. There is no difference between Wagner and Africa Corps," the village elder said.
The Malian authorities have never publicly acknowledged the presence of Wagner  But in recent weeks, Russian state media have released reports from Mali praising the African Corps for protecting the country from "terrorists", and Russia's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the unit operates "at the request of the Malian authorities", providing ground escorts, conducting search-and-rescue operations and other tasks, AP says." Pravda

Al Qaeda Affiliate Claims 200 Soldiers Killed in Massive African Army Base Attack

"A West African terrorist group called Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) claims it killed 200 soldiers when it attacked an army base in Burkina Faso.
JNIM previously claimed 60 Burkinabe troops were killed in the attack but it released a statement that upped the body count to 200. The government of Burkina Faso has not released an official casualty count, although military officials did accuse JNIM of overstating the number of deaths by a wide margin. Local eyewitnesses reported seeing dozens of civilian and military corpses lining the streets after the attack." Breitbart

Putin hosts talks with African leaders on security

"Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday hosted bilateral talks with leaders of the

Palestinian Authority, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President of Burkina Faso Ibrahim Traore arrived in Moscow to take part in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Speaking at the meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, Putin suggested to exchange opinions on what Russia could do additionally to help de-escalate tensions in the Middle East." AfricaNews

Ivory Coast to withdraw French troops

"Ivory Coast has announced the withdrawal of French troops, marking the end of a decades-

long military presence in the country. President Alassane Ouattara confirmed that the process will begin in January 2025, with the Port Bouët military base handed over to Ivorian forces. "We have decided on a coordinated and organized withdrawal of French forces," Ouattara said. France currently has up to 600 soldiers stationed in the country. This decision aligns with similar actions by other West African nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where anti-French sentiment has grown. France has faced military expulsions across 70% of African countries where it once maintained a presence. Recent withdrawals include Senegal and Chad, traditionally seen as strong French allies." AfricanNews

Jihadists Attack Church, Slit the Throats of 26 Christians

"Islamist extremists in Burkina Faso carried out a two-day killing spree, slaughtering hundreds of civilians, including 26 worshippers at a church service, according to reports, which identify the incident as one of the deadliest attacks in the West African country since the Islamist insurgency began nine years ago.

The attacks took place in the towns of Barsalogho in the north and Sanaba in the west in late August, the human rights organization Christian Solidarity International, which is aiding survivors.
In late August, militants opened fire on hundreds of villagers outside Barsalogho and stormed a Protestant church in Sanaba the following day.
The victims of the Barsalogho attack, who were digging trenches under army orders to protect their village, were caught by surprise. Local sources and videos released by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) suggest the death toll reached up to 400.
The victims in Sanaba were members of a Christian Alliance Evangelical church attending a Sunday service. on Aug 25. Armed militants tied the hands of 26 Christian men and cut their throats, according to a pastor from the capital, Ouagadougou, who visited the site afterward. Survivors sought refuge in a local school." Protestia

Mali expels Swedish ambassador amid strained relations with the West

"Mali has ordered Sweden's ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours because of what it called a “hostile” statement by a Swedish minister, the government said on Friday.

Ambassador Kristina Kuhnel’s expulsion comes after Mali on Monday announced it was severing diplomatic ties with Ukraine. Bamako’s decision to cut ties with Kyiv prompted Sweden's minister for international development cooperation and trade, Johan Forssell, to say on Wednesday that the government had decided to phase out bilateral aid to Mali due to its ties to Moscow.
"You cannot support Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and at the same time receive several hundred million kronor each year in development aid," Forssell said on social media platform X. Mali and its neighbours, Niger and Burkina Faso, also led by juntas, have pivoted away from their traditional Western allies to form closer ties with Russia." AfricaNews

Burkina Faso soldiers massacred over 200 civilians in a day

"Human Rights Watch has documented a staggering toll of civilian deaths in a single day in Burkina Faso this year. According to their investigation, more than 220 civilians, among them at least 56 children, fell victim to atrocities allegedly committed by the country's military.

The events unfolded on February 25th, with the village of Soro bearing witness to the loss of 179 lives, while 44 others perished in the neighboring village of Nondin. Human Rights Watch has labelled these mass killings as some of the most egregious abuses by the army in nearly ten years.
Burkina Faso authorities have remained silent on the matter. Eyewitness testimonies provided a chilling account of the military's assault. Survivors recounted how a convoy of over 100 soldiers descended upon Nondin village shortly after Islamist fighters had passed through the area. The soldiers systematically forced villagers from their homes, gathered them in groups, and mercilessly opened fire, leaving no one spared, even those attempting to seek refuge.
The brutality extended to Soro village, located just 5 kilometers away, where the military repeated their deadly actions, shooting indiscriminately at villagers and those attempting to flee.
The military has justified these heinous acts as retaliation against villagers accused of aiding Islamist fighters, following an attack on a nearby military camp by insurgent forces in the northern Yatenga province.
Tirana Hassan, the executive director of Human Rights Watch, condemned the massacres, citing them as the latest in a series of civilian atrocities committed by the Burkina Faso military in their counterinsurgency efforts.
Burkina Faso, governed by a military junta since a coup in 2022, had promised to quell the insurgency. However, the violence has persisted, with jihadist groups now controlling over a third of the country." AfricaNews

Niger soldiers killed in ambush in volatile border region

"Niger says 23 of its soldiers have been killed in a "terrorist" ambush near the borders with

Burkina Faso and Mali in a western region prone to jihadist attacks.
Niger is ruled by military leaders who seized power in a July coup, citing a worsening security situation as justification for the power grab. Nigerien soldiers were engaged in a security sweep in Tillaberi, in the three borders area. More than 100 "terrorists" in vehicles and on motorbikes attacked the army unit between Teguey and Bankilare using "home-made bombs and suicide vehicles".
In addition to the 23 soldiers who died, 17 were wounded." MS

Guinea-Bissau: Army Detains suspects Amid Security Forces Clashes

"Guinea-Bissau's army announced on Friday that it had detained the leader of the security forces unit responsible for overnight clashes in the capital and asserted that the situation was now under control.

Throughout the night and into Friday morning, gunfire erupted in Bissau during confrontations between members of the national guard and presidential guard special forces.
The gunfire ensued following the release of two government members by national guard soldiers, who had been questioned by the police on Thursday.
The two men had been summoned by the judiciary on the same day and taken into custody. The reinforcement of presidential security comes at a time when coups or attempted coups are multiplying in West Africa, including in Gabon, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and, last week, Sierra Leone." AN

Russia to build nuclear plant in Burkina Faso

"Burkina Faso's military leaders have signed a deal with Russia to build a nuclear power plant

to increase electricity supplies.
It is the junta's latest move to align itself with Russia after falling out with most of its Western partners." AP

Response to Niger coup may escalate into ‘world African war’

"A Western-driven campaign to force Niger’s acting government to restore former President

Mohamed Bazoum to power following last week’s military coup could bubble up into a wider conflict pitting NATO powers against Russia and China......“We are now at the door of a world African war,” African Freedom Institute President Franklin Nyamsi said.....ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) imposed sanctions on the new Nigerien government last week, suspending all financial transactions and freezing the country’s assets in ECOWAS-member states. Regional development banks cut off all assistance, as did the EU and France. The US and the African Union also threatened to follow suit. ECOWAS demanded that the junta restore Bazoum, who has been under house arrest since the coup.....A military intervention by ECOWAS would be a “declaration of war” not only against Niger, but also against dissenting members, including Burkina Faso, Mali and possibly Guinea....The two ECOWAS factions – pro-NATO vs. pan-African – might not only fight each other, but also seek assistance from their powerful allies, Nyamsi said. Niger’s backers would likely call on Russia, China and Iran for help. Possibly they want to export a world war in Africa between, finally, the two main blocs of the old Cold War.” RT

Arms for Ukraine Ending Up in Terrorists’ Hands in Africa, Burkina Faso’s Prez Says

"Western weapons sent to Ukraine are winding up in the hands of arms smugglers and
terrorists in Africa, and pose a threat to the continent, interim President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso has told Sputnik Africa.

“What’s my take [on the conflict in Ukraine, ed.]? I don’t have any take on this, because we’re also in conflict. We are at war against terrorism, and they [the West, ed.] are no longer concerned with our war. We only deplore that weapons destined for Ukraine are on our continent and continue to activate our war. This is what we deplore,” Traore said." Sputnik

Niger: Soldiers Seize Airwaves, Claim to Stage Coup on National TV

"A group of soldiers describing themselves as the “National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland” appeared on national television in Niger late Thursday night announcing they had overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum and “suspended” the operations of all government institutions.....reports from Niger’s main cities suggested many civilians going to work or otherwise behaving normally, with no indication of whether Bazoum’s government or the military was in charge. Bazoum has not appeared publicly since Thursday, but posted a message on Twitter in the early morning hours of Thursday vowing to protect “democracy and freedom.”.....Niger is a volatile Sahel country facing multiple jihadist insurgencies, including attacks by the Islamic State, its subsidiary Boko Haram, and some al-Qaeda elements. Bazoum’s government has been generally friendly to America.......It is currently surrounded by, in addition to jihadists, nations that have turned on the West and sought aid from Russia and the Wagner Private Military Group (PMC), most prominently Burkina Faso....Reports out of Niger suggested that Adramane had not organized the coup, but General Abdourhmane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guard." Breitbart

Why Nigerien Protesters Want French Army Out & Wave Russian Flags

"The latest protests in Niger were organized by the M62 movement, a group of NGOs which reportedly describes itself as "peaceful" and committed to "the dignity and sovereignty of the Nigerien people." Seydou Abdoulaye, the coordinator of the M62 Movement, told Agence France Presse (AFP) that Nigeriens demand the immediate departure of French troops from Niger as the military deployment violates Niger's sovereignty and destabilizes the Sahel.

France has beefed up its presence in Sahel since January 2013 when it launched Operation Serval to halt the advance of a coalition of Tuareg rebel and Islamist fighters in Mali. The French intervention came on the heels of the 2011 destruction of Libya by NATO. Following the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi’s government by NATO-backed rebels, the power vacuum saw greater destabilization in the region. The French-led Operation Barkhane succeeded Operation Serval in August 2014: approximately 4,500 French troops were deployed between Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad.

The fact that Nigeriens carried Russian flags during the protests could be explained by the people's belief that "Russia’s presence in the region may rescue them and Russia as a strong nation is maybe able to secure the region by fighting the insurgency," according to Dr. Ismael Buchanan.

On the other hand, the pro-Russian sentiment in Niger could be driven by Mali's decision to invite Russian military advisers from the PMC Wagner Group to cope with the rebel and jihadism threat following France's unilateral decision to pull out from the country." Sputnik