Russia claims its Africa Corps group prevented coup in Mali after rebels seize townsKremlin-controlled paramilitaries also alleged it inflicted 'irreplaceable losses' on insurgents avoiding civilian casualtiesRussia's defence ministry has claimed its Africa Corps - the successor to the former Wagner mercenary group - prevented a coup in Mali over the weekend, avoiding mass civilian casualties and inflicting "irreplaceable losses" on rebel insurgents.It said in a statement that its troops in the desert town of Kidal near the Algerian border had fought for more than 24 hours while completely surrounded and vastly outnumbered. It also alleged, without providing evidence, that the militants had been trained by European mercenary instructors, including Ukrainians. The casualty toll was not specified. Continue reading...
Fears of resurgence in Somali piracy after three vessels hijacked in a weekPirates appear to be taking advantage of international naval strength being diverted to Middle EastThree vessels have been hijacked off the coast of Somalia in the past week, raising fears of a resurgence in piracy around the Horn of Africa, and adding to the woes of the global shipping industry.The merchant vessel Sward was taken over on 26 April, a day after a dhow was seized. These followed the 21 April hijacking of Honour 25, a motor tanker carrying 18,000 barrels of oil, according to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO), the tracking service of the EU's naval force. Continue reading...
Taking power in Mali might be a stretch but insurgents can force hand of weakened regimeCoordinated attack by JNIM and the Tuareg minority inflicted significant casualties on government forces and Russian auxiliariesWhen al-Qaida-affiliated Islamic militants launched a series of attacks on military bases and raids into major towns in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso last summer, observers suggested they had been inspired by their counterparts in Syria, who had overthrown the regime of Bashar al-Assad and taken power six months or so earlier.Despite the tactical successes that earned them the fearful title of the "Ghost Army", seizing swathes of territory and denying cities and the military of fuel and other essentials, the chances of Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) definitively defeating Mali's military regime and the thousand or so Russian mercenaries hired to defend it looked poor. Continue reading...
Gunmen kill at least 29 at football pitch in north-east Nigeria, governor saysAttack in Adamawa state continues wave of violence across the country, including armed raid on orphanage in KogiGunmen have killed at least 29 people in north-east Nigeria, a state governor said on Monday, with local people saying the attackers targeted young people gathered at a football pitch, the latest bout of deadly unrest in Africa's most populous nation.The attack on Sunday occurred in Adamawa state, which borders Cameroon, and is a hotspot for violence by jihadists and criminal gangs. Communal violence over conflict for land is also rife in the state. Continue reading...
US soldier pleads not guilty to charges of betting on Nicolás Maduro's ousterProsecutors allege Gannon Van Dyke won $400,000 using insider information to bet on Maduro raid on Polymarket The US army soldier charged with winning $400,000 by using insider information to bet on the removal of the ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty to fraud charges on Tuesday.Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, entered the plea in US district judge Margaret Garnett's courtroom in Manhattan. Van Dyke sported a shaved head and wore a black blazer, jeans and brown shoes as he arrived to the courtroom with his lawyers, Zach Intrater and Mark Geragos. Continue reading...
500 Can't connect to hosted.ap.org:80 (Bad hostname)
| 
