jihadists – European Affairs Magazine

Mali: the rivalries persist between the various armed groups and the jihadists movements

31 Marzo 2017 BreakingNews @en di

With the installation of the firts temporary authorities, the peace process seems finally to progress. But the rivalries persist between the various armed groups and the jihadists movements. Durign these months the peace process progressed, stagned, sometimes seems to collapse. With more than one year of delay on the initial schedule which planned authorities implementation three months after the signing of the Agreement of Algiers in 2015, they were finally settled at the beginning of March in three of the Nord of Mali regions: Kidal, Gao and Ménaka. For nationals and international actors this is a decisive step toward the implementation of peace process, even if the situation still remain uncertain in Timbuktoo and Taoudeni, because before the istallation of the temporary authorities there was nothing concrete. “Finally we move forward” said one of the leader of the Coordination of the movements of Azawad (ex rebellion Touaregue). One of the main disposition of the peace agreement is to prepare the next elections: the Government, the CMA and the coalition of pregovernmental armed groups rapresent the various parties.

Fierce clashes persist in Syria ahead of renewed peace talks.

24 Marzo 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Jihadists and other rebel groups made advances against the Syrian army north of Hama on Thursday, a war monitor said, part of their biggest offensive for months, underscoring the bleak prospects for peace talks which resume later in the day. The assault coincides with clashes in the capital Damascus, where rebels and the army are fighting on the edge of the city center in the Jobar district for a fifth day amid heavy bombardment, state media and the war monitor reported. Increased fighting, despite a ceasefire brokered in December by Russia and Turkey, casts further doubt on peacemaking efforts in Geneva, where talks resume on Thursday after making no progress towards peace in recent rounds. “We hope to see some serious partner on the other side of the table”, Salem al-Muslet, spokesman for the opposition’s High Negotiating Committee (HNC), said in Geneva.

Saudi King trip to Lebanon set aside over Aoun's Pro-Hizbullah remarks

7 Marzo 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz has canceled a scheduled trip to Lebanon this month amid reports claiming that statements made by President Michel Aoun about Hizbullah’s arms were to blame, media reports said on Monday. The King had plans to visit Lebanon in March to “interpret the Saudi leadership’s desire in helping the Lebanese state and encourage it to fulfill its Arab and international obligations, and the settlement that ended the presidential vacuum”, said An Nahar daily.Saudi sources told the daily “the visit was supposed to give Lebanon a strong moral and political boost from the Kingdom and Gulf states as well, and open the doors wide for unconditional return of Arab and Gulf tourists to Beirut. It was to be accompanied by tangible economic support for the Lebanese state”. After his election as president in November, ending more that two years of presidential vacuum, Aoun visited Saudi Arabia in January on a mission to patch up ties after a tense year which saw Saudi Arabia freeze the aid deal over what it said was the dominance of Hizbullah. Analysts say Saudi Arabia was hoping for a more stable Lebanon, after concerns over the role played by Hizbullah in the Lebanese government and the threat posed by jihadists and the war in neighboring Syria.

Sinai: Jihadist attacks against Christians grow in number

6 Marzo 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Dozens of Coptic families have fled North Sinai as jihadist attacks against Christians grow in number. Simultaneously, Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis fired missiles across the border into Israel, prompting an Israeli response that killed several Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis operatives in Egypt, and security forces launched a new sweep of Gabal Al-Halal, a notorious militant hideout.According to sources interviewed, the connection is clear. It is reinforced, they say, by the growing role played by Gaza jihadists in the leadership of Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis, a role they claim is reflected in the ferocious campaign to discredit Cairo’s policy towards the Palestinian-Israeli negotiating process, which has included leaks from the Aqaba summit and the spreading of rumours of a land exchange that would allow Palestinians to settle in Sinai.Analysts also believe the attacks against Copts are part of an attempt to place Egypt in an awkward situation internationally. The recent incidents occurred in tandem with a number of high-profile visits — of the British foreign secretary and the German chancellor — and ahead of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s upcoming visit to the US.The idea of “correspondence” between radical Islamist organisations begs the question of Muslim Brotherhood involvement.A security source points to the resemblance between the video claiming responsibility for the bombing of St Peter’s Church in December and the video posted on Al-Nabaa calling for attacks against Copts. Both, he says, display “a distinct Brotherhood tone perceptible in the rhetorical details suggesting that the Brotherhood media machine or, more precisely, rebel factions within the Brotherhood such as Hasm and the Revolution Brigade, had a hand in its making”.

Egypt, Sinai: 70 soldiers killed by Isis

1 Luglio 2015 BreakingNews @en/Middle East - Africa di

Attacked the army checkpoint. At least 30 militants were killed. Jihadist troops and vehicle-bomb used in the attempt. Cairo declares the state of war. The terrorist action has taken place a few days after the Egypt’s top public prosecutor killing.

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70 soldiers and at least 30 jihadists dead after Islamic State militants wave of attack on the army in North Sinai today. Terrorists and vehicle bombs have launched a simultaneos charge against security forces’ check point. While Egyptian government has reacted bombing Islamists. The offensive is conducted by the State of Sinai, affiliated to Isis since November 2014.

Prime Minister Mahlab has declared “the state of war”, but it’s not the first terrorist attack in Sinai. But this time jihadists have honed their technique. While Egyptian security forces have remained still and they have not taken enough countermeasures in recent months. Moreover, this attempts were predictable after Egypt’s top public prosecutor killing a few days ago.

The elimination of the Al Sisi’s enemies , starting with the deposed president Morsi, has sparked a war on several fronts inside Egypt.From Cairo, where terrorist cells are operating, to Sinai, historically unstable, where troops of the State of Sinai put on a military organization and strategy inspired by the Mujahideen: communications interruptions, combined attacks, explosions of vehicle bombs. In front of this context, Israel has decided to close the borders.
Giacomo Pratali

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Chad: Islamic veil banned

23 Giugno 2015 Middle East - Africa di

“The full-face veil will be banned because terrorists have used them like camouflage”, Prime Minister of Chad Deubet said after suicide bomb attacks in the capital N’Djamena. This law “it is not contrary to the principles of Islam”, Higher Council for Islamic Affairs admitted.

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After the offensive of last January, called MJTF (Multinational Joint Task Force), along with Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Benin, Islamic State has passed counterattack. And, after returning to action in the state of Borno, now it’s entered in Chad.

The Caliphate in Africa, declaired in 2014 by Boko Haram, is becoming more and more an organization able to embarrass the regular armies. And, after Nigeria, even Chad, strategic ally for the West, is having to fight an internal battle.

On 15th June, 4 suicide bombers killed 30 people and injured abou a hundred in N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. Militants, exploded near the police station and the Police Academy, struck for the first time the main cities of the country. Earlier, at the end of May, 33 jihadists and 4 Chadian soldiers died after a bloody battle to Choua Island, in Lake Chad.
Giacomo Pratali

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