Senegalese foreign minister Aissata Tall Sall recently called on China to become more involved in the Sahel region, specifically expressing a hope that Beijing will be a “strong voice” in combatting the rising tide of terrorism in the region. The appeal certainly has its logic, given Beijing’s expanding influence in…
In Togo, President Faure Gnassingbé said Monday that the country’s security remained a top priority, following last week’s attacks on an outpost near the northern border. His statement acknowledged the attack in Sanloaga, in the Kpendjal territory, on the night of November 9. Togolese security forces said the incident at…
A Kenyan arrested in the Philippines has been transferred to custody in the United States, where authorities say he faces terrorism-related charges after planning another September 11-like aircraft attack in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday that Cholo Abdi Abdullah, 30, was part of a plot directed by senior…
President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of Burkina Faso called for three days of mourning following news of an attack on a convoy of mining employees working for Canadian firm SEMAFO, one that has shocked both nations. He’s also called on his nation to raise up volunteer defense groups in a…
The death toll in Sri Lanka has now reached 310 people following the bombing attacks on Sunday, according to updates from the island nation government. Among the dead are 31 foreigners, with eight from India and eight holding British citizenship. The others come from at least 11 nations, including France,…
A Canadian man abducted in Burkina Faso earlier this week and later found dead has been identified as Kirk Woodman, a vice president of exploration for a mining company based in Nova Scotia. A government official in the Sahel nation confirmed the name following Tuesday’s incident at a Progress Minerals…
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo targeted Iran in a speech delivered Thursday at the American University in Cairo, but he was equally forceful in describing the U.S. role and the failings of former U.S. President Barack Obama to confront the threats in the Middle East and North Africa….
The CBS investigative news program “60 Minutes” in the United States says it’s going ahead with its interview of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, despite Cairo’s request to kill the segment. Sisi recently sat down with journalist Scott Pelley to record the interview, confirming that the Egyptian military is…
The United States has released new data on counterterrorism on the African continent, with the challenges in Somalia and across the Sahel remaining among the most pressing priorities. The Country Reports on Terrorism 2017 lists 16 African nations with detailed information about terrorism threats and response, along with five more…
Legislation to protect wildlife from poaching in the Okavango River Basin of southern Africa was passed this week by the United States House of Representatives, where members who sponsored the bill raised the alarm over ties between wildlife trafficking and terrorist organization finance. “This ecosystem spans three countries,” said bill…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a controversial travel ban affecting citizens of Libya and Somalia hoping to enter the U.S. will stand, despite legal challenges dating to the first days of President Donald Trump’s administration. The 5-4 ruling keeps in place a reworked version of the ban…
The United States has lifted its travel ban for Chad, citing a positive review of the Sahel nation’s identity-management and information sharing practices. “Chad is a critical and vital partner to the U.S. counterterrorism mission. Chad has made significant strides and now meets the baseline criteria,” the U.S. Department of…
The United States announced Tuesday that it has assigned Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) status to the Ansarul Islam group, and will impose sanctions against members known to have committed terrorist acts or believed to be at a significant risk of doing so. “Ansarul Islam is a terrorist group based…
A new eight-minute video from Islamic State is the first such material produced in Somalia and demonstrates the carefully cultivated IS influence in the Horn of Africa, according to a Washington DC-based security monitoring group. “So far, Somalia is the only ISIS entity to release a threatening video against the…
President Emmanuel Macron of France has announced €400 million (USD$474 million) in financial aid to Niger during his weekend press conference with President Mahamadou Issoufou in Niamey. Macron said the funding, planned through 2021, will support development in Niger and security in the Sahel. His remarks alongside Issoufou, who Macron praised…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times