U.S. charges Kenyan accused of Shabaab ties, hijack terror plot

U.S. charges Kenyan accused of Shabaab ties, hijack terror plot

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…

Canadian man ID’d in Burkina Faso mine abduction

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…

Sisi interview to air in U.S. despite Egypt’s demand to stop it

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…

U.S. report looks at counterterrorism across Africa

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…

U.S. legislators advance Okavango River Basin wildlife protection

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…

U.S. court upholds travel ban for Libya, Somalia

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…

U.S. lifts travel ban for Chad

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…

U.S. to impose sanctions against Ansarul Islam

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…

Macron’s Sahel trip spotlights security, migration investments

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 Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times