Sahel Intel

🇲🇱 Drone strikes in Kidal Last night in Kidal, drones launched by the Malian Armed Forces and Wagner Group struck targets at the ex-MINUSMA base recently occupied by the Tuareg separatist CSP. Casualties are currently unknown. This may be the beginning of the Malian junta's announced 'grand offensive' to retake the north of the country. - Wamaps

#BurkinaFaso (#Sahel) 🇧🇫: #ISIS militants carried out an attack on Al-Qaeda (#JNIM) militants in Kalamba, Kaya. As a result ISIS militants captured Serbian Zastava M05E1 rifles, RPG-7 Launcher, Bulgarian PG-7V rocket, Chinese Type 56(-1/-2) rifles, Zastava M70AB2 rifle etc... https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1720091173589807568

🇳🇬 Students storm EFCC office in Ibadan after 72 arrested without warrant Students from Obafemi Awolowo University in southwest Nigeria stormed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) office in Ibadan, protesting the arrest of classmates by the anti-graft agency. 72 university students were detained without reason during a midnight raid of their residences, and their phones were confiscated. The university administration has noted that the EFCC has not communicated any criminal accusations against its students, nor given a reason for the raid.

🇳🇪 National Director for Niger of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), M. Rafa, has been arrested by Nigérien junta authorities.

🇲🇱 🏴‍☠️ 🏴 The current situation in Mali is complex. 🔶️ "The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and Wagner have been struggling against the growing AQIM and JNIM insurgency." 🔶️ "Recently, Azawad separatists (MLNA) renewed their fight for independence against the government, capturing several FAMa bases." 🔶️ "MINUSMA (UN) forces are exiting Mali upon the government's demand. FAMa and Wagner, departing from Gao, headed north in multiple convoys into MLNA-operated areas in order to secure the UN bases. The MLNA have employed hit-and-run tactics, halting the convoys at Anefis." 🔶️ "The UN has completed their departure from Aguelhok and Tessalit. Having successfully delayed and blocked the Army from advancing north, the MLNA have taken control of the former UN bases and surrounding towns." 🔶️ "The UN has commenced the process of departing from their base in Kidal, which is currently under the control of the MLNA and serves as the movement's capital." 📎 War Mapper

🇺🇸🇳🇪🇬🇦🇨🇫🇺🇬 US to remove Niger, other African countries from AGOA The Biden administration is set to remove Niger, Gabon, the Central African Republic and Uganda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) preferential trade system starting from January 2024. The AGOA allows eligible African countries duty-free access to export to the US in certain sectors, such as textiles. AGOA exports from Niger to the US were worth $73m in 2022. Niger, Gabon and the CAR are being expelled from the system for recently adopting anti-western authoritarian governments. Uganda is being expelled for its policies against homosexuality.

🇮🇳🇳🇬 Indian Muslim televangelist meets "Muslim Airforce" in Nigeria Famed Islamic televangelist Dr. Zakir Naik, who is now banned from his native India and a host of other countries for 'extremist' views, is now visiting Nigeria. He was invited to give a lecture tour in the country by the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa'ad Abubakar. Naik has infuriated Nigerian Christians by repeatedly labelling everything and everyone in the country as 'Muslim', such as the "Muslim Immigration" system, and the "Muslim Airforce", and referring to the Sultan as the head of state, as though Nigeria were an Islamic sultanate. In reality, almost half of Nigerians are Christians and many have taken to social media to complain once again about "creeping Islamization" in the country.

🇳🇪🇳🇬 Niamey court confirms ex-President Mohamed Bazoum attempted to escape to Nigeria An appeal court in Niger's capital has confirmed that an elaborate plan was devised by ex-President Bazoum and his supporters to escape the country, despite being under house arrest since a military coup earlier this year. Bazoum, his family, and his cooks planned to be smuggled to a house on the outskirts of Niamey, and from there take a covert helicopter trip to Birnin Kebbi, in northwest Nigeria. The plotters were caught partway through this plan, with a large stash of foreign currency and sim cards.

🇳🇪 Islamic State finally publishes photos from a massive spree of ambushes on Nigerien army at the beginning of October, where Niger suffered disastrous casualties with over 120 soldiers killed. Hundreds of jihadists on pick-ups and motorcycles in action. This is only the prelude to the war in Sahel that is unfolding. Both AQ and IS exploit the vacuum that Wagner and voluntary militias armed by juntas simply cannot fill after France left. - Pawel Wójcik https://twitter.com/SaladinAlDronni/status/1718701741489983755?t=n3iD768w3VaLGZoql7Fd9g&s=19

🇳🇬 State House of Assembly attacked by arsonists in Nigeria's Rivers state The southern state of Rivers saw its State House of Assembly attacked by arsonists yesterday, believed to be goons of local politicians. The Assembly recently voted to begin the process of impeaching House Speaker Edison While and Rivers Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. Soon afterwards, a riot broke out outside the assembly, suppressed by police with tear gas canisters. Fubara claims police officers in the pay of rival politicians have also tried to assassinate him. Local police and fire services have successfully put out the blaze, and the complex is now under heavy protection by soldiers and armored personnel carriers.