Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso turn to tech in counterterrorism

Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso turn to tech in counterterrorism

When extremists attacked a Côte d’Ivoire checkpoint last month at the border with Burkina Faso, killing several Ivorian military personnel, the incident underscored growing concern that the threat of West Africa’s armed groups was creeping into yet another nation. At least 30 suspected militants including Burkinabe leader Ali Sidibe were…

EU names 4 African nations to financial crimes watchlist

EU names 4 African nations to financial crimes watchlist

Ethiopia and Tunisia have been removed, but four African nations are now on a financial crimes watch list issued by the European Union. Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and Zimbabwe are identified as high-risk countries for money laundering and the potential for funding terrorism, according to an EU statement. The additions are…

U.S. announces new counterterrorism task force in Kenya

Officials in the United States have announced a new counterterrorism partnership with Kenya, in what they say is the first such Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) involving American partners to be located outside of the United States. The U.S. Department of State and Federal Bureau of Investigation say the Kenyan-led…

Tunisia’s new counterterrorism law may curb freedoms

Tunisia’s significant human rights challenges remain seven years after its uprising, says Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. His statement Thursday comes after a 10-day visit to assess progress and the impact of new legislation that, while intended…

Leaving Kenya, Tillerson heads for Chad, Nigeria

United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson headed to Chad and Nigeria on Monday, resuming his tour of African nations after briefly falling ill at the weekend while in Kenya. While in N’Djamena, Tillerson was expected to focus on counterterrorism efforts in West Africa, where Chad plays a key role…

Morocco, Spain meet on post-Barcelona security coordination

Moroccan security officials and their counterparts from Spain met Tuesday to discuss cooperation between the two nations in the wake of the Barcelona terror attacks two weeks ago. The renewed attention to regional coordination comes after authorities found a group of men, many of them dual citizens of Morocco and…

France’s Macron plans Sahel trip later this week

Newly elected President Emmanuel Macron of France promised during his campaign that once in office, his first trip abroad would be to see French troops stationed in the Sahel in Operation Barkhane. Now he’s making good on that promise with a visit, expected to be in Mali, on Thursday or…

Report calls Kenya to account on surveillance, human rights abuses

A report that investigates the role of state-sponsored surveillance in Kenya charges that information gathered by authorities – outside of the procedures required by Kenyan law – is used to facilitate human rights abuses. That’s especially a concern as Kenya moves forward with the country’s 2017 elections, the report by…