Friday, February 17, 2012
Since 17 January 2012, the north of Mali has been at war. It started as an attack of armed Tuaregs on a Malian army barracks in Ménaka, near the border with Niger, and has now spread across all of Mali’s three desert regions.
The current conflict in northern Mali is being driven by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). Azawad is how the movement refers to Mali’s three northern regions - Timbuktu, Kidal and Gao - that covers around half of the country’s area.
Independence: for Tuareg or all?
MNLA spokesman, Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, is clear about their aspirations: “We demand self-determination for Azawad. That means: independence. Is our action a challenge to Mali’s sovereignty? Well, when you look at the matter in more depth, you will find that Azawad and Mali have never been united. We have been asking for freedom in our own state for a long time. But it has never been taken into consideration.”
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
At least 14 al-Shabaab militants have been killed on Wednesday and many others wounded in an attack which took place in Gedo region of south western Somalia, a military official says.
Ibrahim Farah, one of Somalia Transitional Federal Government TFG army officials in Gedo region said that they have launched an attack this morning on a rebel-held village nearby Gedo Garbaharay town in Gedo region, killing 14 militants from al-Qaeda linked al-Shabaab group.
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Sugure, a town under the control of the regional state of Puntland located 40km south of the coastal town of Bosaso, was the sight of a bloody battle this morning after rebel fighters loyal to Sheikh Mohamed Said Atom’s Galgala militia attacked Puntland security forces in their camp early in the morning.
“The rebel fighters attacked immediately after the dawn prayer. You could hardly hear the person next to you because of ricocheting bullets. The rebels were using heavy ammunition and the battle lasted for almost an hour. Bodies were scattered around the camp at least 15 Puntland officers were killed instantly. Two others were injuried and later succumbed to their injuries,” witness Omar Khalif told Somalia Report.
The incident was thought to be a revenge attack after Puntland security forces arrested Sheik Atom’s brother, Ahmed Said Mohamed yesterday.
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Colombia’s Armed Forces said Tuesday they have killed the commander of the FARC’s 62nd front, active in the central Meta department.
According to the military, front commander “Dumar” was killed in a Tuesday afternoon offensive by Joint Task Force “Omega,” against the FARC Front 62, in the rural area of Meta department.
The press release said the offensive commenced with the aerial bombardment of two FARC encampments by the Air Force, and the ensuing operation resulted in the death of Dumar, along with 3 other rebels, including “Gisella,” believed to be Dumar’s lover. Four other guerrillas were taken alive.
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A militant group with links to al-Qaeda has beheaded three people in southern Yemen allegedly for spying for the United States.The three, one Yemeni and two Saudis, were executed by insurgents from the Supporters of al-Sharia, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, said the Yemeni website Barakish.net, citing local sources.
The executions were carried out on Sunday in the towns of Jaar and Azan in southern Yemen, where al-Qaeda radicals have a strong foothold, the report said.
Insurgents, suspected of links with al-Qaeda, have taken advantage of a year of political turmoil in Yemen to expand their influence in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country.
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