🇰🇪 On the mass unrest in Kenya

Since June 20th, there have been daily protests in Kenya with thousands of people participating.

The reason for the protests was the government's proposal to introduce additional fees on basic goods such as bread, vegetable oil and sugar in order to overcome the budget deficit. These measures caused understandable unrest across the country, as the population is already struggling to make ends meet, and additional taxes will only exacerbate the situation.

▪️On June 20th, protests in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and other major cities gathered thousands of people, against whom the police used tear gas and, as reported, live ammunition. During the suppression of the rallies, 1 protester was killed and another 200 were injured.

Soon after, the parliament decided to revise the budget amendments on June 25th. For this same day, the opposition planned large-scale protests, which are now unfolding and have already resulted in the storming of government buildings.

▪️Meanwhile, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura suspected foreign powers of sponsoring the protests. In the same speech, he mentioned that the current president Ruto could have made statements that displeased other people.

In particular, he reminded of the Kenyan leader's participation in the Ukrainian peace summit in Switzerland. Thus, he indirectly accused the Russian leadership of instigating the protests.

▪️Also, some Western observers note the appearance of the Russian flag at the protests, which does not indicate the presence of instigators from Russia. Recently, the tricolor has become a symbol of protest against the West on the African continent, and in the logic of rallies directed against the government, its appearance is quite appropriate.

🔻The reaction of the Kenyan officials shows how the Western press has influenced the local government. Now all the problems within the country can be conveniently attributed to the cursed Russians, instead of seeing the beam in their own eye. And it's understandable: just the other day, Kenya became the main non-NATO ally of the USA, and the new status obliges a certain politeness on a whole range of foreign policy issues.

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🇨🇬🇷🇺 On the Russian tour of the Congolese President

After the African trip of Lavrov in early June, during which the minister visited Brazzaville, the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, has now come to Moscow, where he met with Vladimir Putin.

The leader of the African country called the relations with Russia friendly and solidary, and also expressed a desire to bring the cooperation between the countries to a "new level". After Moscow, the president will visit St. Petersburg, where he will discuss business and cultural ties with the business community and the governor.

🔻For Denis Sassou Nguesso, this trip is an important and timely attempt to create a "safety net", in case of increased American pressure due to the current struggle for influence in Central Africa and in neighboring DRC in particular.

The rule of the 80-year-old president is often criticized and accused of corruption in the Western media. And although no sanctions against the Congolese authorities have been imposed so far, the White House will not hesitate to apply this tool if necessary.

🔻And for our companies, there is a chance to intensify their activities in a rather promising market, at least in the energy sector. The Republic of Congo has large reserves of oil and gas, and its representatives are interested in Russian investments in the energy sector.
#Africa #Congo #Russia
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🇰🇪 Waning of Protests in Kenya

After the events of June 25th, when protesters dissatisfied with the new tax bill seized the parliament and clashed with police, the protests have been subsiding.

This is understandable - the main demand of the protesters to cancel the bill was met, and the parliament went on vacation until July 23rd.

📌The promised "million-strong" march against President Ruto's presidency on June 27th did not take place.

This was largely because the government gathered law enforcement officers from across the country to constantly patrol the capital. Moreover, one of the influential protest leaders backed down and proposed only holding events in memory of the deceased.

▪️The few rioters who dared to take to the streets met fierce resistance from the police, who used tear gas and did not hesitate to use live ammunition again.

▪️In addition to the capital, protests also took place in many major cities, where, due to the concentration of security forces in Nairobi, there were acts of looting: burning police cars, robbing supermarkets, and robberies.

🔻Apparently, the demonstrations, without foreign support, have temporarily lost their meaning for Kenyans. However, the protest potential they have shown can be further used by various parties to pursue their interests if they are dissatisfied with the rule of William Ruto.

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🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 How the first summit of the Sahel States Alliance went

On July 6, the first summit of the Sahel States Alliance, which unites the anti-Western governments of West Africa, was held in the capital of Niger, Niamey. As a result, steps were taken to create a confederation of the three countries and continue the integration processes.

Earlier, the leaders of the three countries agreed to create a united group of troops to fight terrorism, which they later reinforced with joint cross-border operations. The success in the military sphere was also confirmed at the summit by the intention to create a unified security policy.

❗️Now their most important task is to ensure economic sovereignty.

Serious steps have been taken in this direction: following the summit, a joint investment bank was created. The heads of the three states also reinforced their separation from ECOWAS, despite statements by the President of Senegal to the contrary. Most likely, this is how they announced their course towards abandoning the CFA franc.

There were also intentions to coordinate diplomatic steps and create a single space for the movement of goods and people.

Following the summit, the President of Mali, Assimi Goïta, was elected as the head of the Sahel States Alliance for one year.

🔻In this example, we can see how, with the mediation of Russian military and political specialists, the Sahel countries have embarked on the path of genuine economic sovereignty with the support of Moscow.

At the same time, seeing such determination of the local governments, we should also conduct a more active economic policy in the region with the involvement of Russian business. Because, despite all our military successes, important economic projects still, for some reason, go to the Anglo-Saxons.
#Africa #BurkinaFaso #Mali #Niger
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🇲🇱🇷🇺 on the Cooperation Between Mali and Rosatom

The authorities of Mali and the Russian state corporation Rosatom recently signed three cooperation agreements and discussed joint projects, including the prospects for building a nuclear power plant.

In addition to discussing the "strategic project for the construction of a small nuclear power plant in Mali," the parties talked about solar energy projects and exploration work.

📌And the last point, mentioned in passing, interests us the most. Mali is currently one of the most promising countries in Africa for uranium exploration and production.

There are no exact data on reserves yet, but there are many indirect indications that significant uranium mining was carried out illegally in areas not under state control. Moreover, it is very likely that there are rich deposits in the border areas with Niger, where reserves have been explored and are actively being mined.

In addition, companies such as Northern Canadian Uranium Inc., Delta Exploration Inc., Rockgate Capital Corp and other Western firms are already conducting exploration work in Mali.

🔻Therefore, the consolidation of Rosatom in the region, following Russian military specialists, cannot but please. And there is a hope that the recently abandoned deposits in Niger by the French and Canadians will not remain idle either.

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🇨🇮🇺🇸 According to the French publication Le Monde, citing sources in Côte d'Ivoire, the government of the country has agreed to the redeployment of the American contingent from Niger to its territory.

Plans to deploy US military personnel in the Gulf of Guinea countries are not new - earlier statements about this had already appeared in the information field. Now on this issue, there is simply more specifics and confirmation of previously made assumptions.

For the construction of a new base for the remnants of the contingent from Niger, the US Africa Command has chosen the city of Odienné, which is located near the border with Mali and Guinea. Another part of the military personnel will be redeployed to the headquarters in Germany in analogy with the "Green Berets" withdrawn from Chad.

Due to this proximity to the Sahel Alliance of States, American UAVs will be able to quickly monitor the situation in the areas where Al-Qaeda-linked militants have recently become more active. However, it is hardly to be expected that they will receive direct fire support from them.

Against the backdrop of the Americans deciding not to occupy the French base in Port-Bouët, but to build a new one, in this particular case, it is quite likely that the withdrawal of the French contingent from the Ivorian territory will not follow. It is possible that the parties will even take joint actions.

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🇫🇷🇨🇫 Here is the result regarding the recent meetings between the President of the Central African Republic, Touadéra, and Macron.

The document on the lifting of the arms embargo was presented to the UN Security Council by France (which had previously blocked it), and the resolution was later supported by all member states.

At the same time, Russia has been trying to push for the lifting of the embargo at the UN for the past six years, achieving only minor concessions on certain types of weapons. It is hardly necessary to say how the efforts of Russian diplomacy now appear to the Central African elite after such a demonstration.

But another aspect of this event is also interesting - in Paris, they are clearly signaling that they are no longer going to restrain the modernization of the armed forces of the Central African Republic, including through supplies from abroad, for example from Turkey (which is popular in the budget segment of the arms market). And this concession was unlikely to have been made for nothing. It is quite possible that behind the scenes there were economic agreements or certain preferences for French businesses in the country.

Against this background, the infighting within the Russian structures in Africa is a cause for concern: both in Mali and in the Central African Republic, there is no coordinated cooperation between the Wagner PMC and the African Corps, but rather a "tug of war" and unforgivably meager efforts to lobby the interests of Russian business in friendly countries. But let's hope that at least the chance with the lifting of the embargo will be used promptly and to the maximum, and planes with Russian weapons, instead of Turkish ones, will fly to the Central African Republic.
#Africa #Russia #France #CAR #PMC
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🇳🇪 Situation in Niger: Intensification of Counter-Terrorism Activities

Summary for July 21 - August 21, 2024

The positive trend aimed at destroying cells of terrorist organizations on the territory of the country continues.

▪️Along the Malian border, the armed forces conducted an operation to free hostages from the captivity of the local branch of the "Islamic State", involving about a thousand troops. After the hostages began to be evacuated, the convoy was ambushed by terrorists, resulting in about 30 casualties.

At the same time, thanks to aerial reconnaissance near the city of Bankilaré, a large concentration of militants was destroyed using drones. As a result, about a dozen extremists were neutralized.

▪️Further south on the border with Burkina Faso, where JNIM militants linked to Al-Qaeda are entrenched, terrorist detachments from where they sometimes arrive were also eliminated. More than 20 radicals were eliminated in the local forests.

After the summit of the Sahel States Alliance, which decided to create a confederation, there is a solidarity between the foreign policy departments of Ouagadougou, Bamako and Niamey. After support from Kyiv for the attacks by Islamists on Tin-Zaouatine, all three countries severed ties with it, calling on the UN to condemn the actions of the Ukrainian leadership.

In addition, ties with the Algerian authorities have also strengthened. The ministers are actively discussing security and economic integration issues.

🔻We emphasize once again that the pragmatic authorities of Niamey maneuver between the interests of many countries, but remain committed to the course of sovereignty with Russian support. And the support of the African Corps allows for large-scale counter-terrorist operations, which has a positive impact on the situation within the country.

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🇨🇮🇫🇷 On the withdrawal of French troops from Côte d'Ivoire

The head of the newly formed French Armed Forces Africa Command, Pascal Ianni, met with the Ivorian Chief of Staff Lassina Doumbia during his visit to Abidjan. The main issues discussed were military cooperation between the countries within the framework of France's new approach to Africa.

▪️The key point of the meeting was the discussion of the future of the base in Port-Bouët and the 43rd Marine Infantry Battalion of the French Army stationed there.

According to preliminary agreements, along with the transfer of the military facility under the sovereignty of (although it is assumed that access will be joint) Côte d'Ivoire, the French will build training and communication centers there, leaving their presence exclusively as instructors.

A month ago, the French troops left the base in Lomo-Nord in a similar manner.

▪️In addition, the issue of further interaction between the military structures of the two countries was raised. In particular, it is proposed to increase joint military exercises, which have already been held in early September this year.

🔻Given the fact that the Americans have already agreed with the Ivorian authorities to build their own base for the relocation of their troops from Niger, the reduction of the French contingent should not be surprising. However, as we have assumed, there will be no full withdrawal of the French from the country.
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🇲🇱Situation in Mali: Terrorist Attack in Bamako and Wagner PMC Raid
Summary for September 15 - October 18, 2024

The past month has seen an overall increase in military activity in various parts of Mali. The main event was undoubtedly the raid by the Wagner PMC with the goal of repatriating the remains of its fighters.

▪️ Recall that thanks to the lessons learned from the previous bitter experience, this time there were almost no losses. All ambushes were avoided, and the enemy was made to believe in different goals of the operation.

▪️ Another important event was the attack by radical Islamists on the airport of the capital Bamako and the nearby gendarmerie barracks. A small group of militants was able to temporarily seize the airport and damage civilian aircraft. They did not reach the military part of the facility.

▪️ There is also another activation of government forces along the Mauritanian border. During the recent events, more than 50 Islamists hiding along the border strip were detained and eliminated.

Unfortunately, during one of the clashes, the commander of the 9th assault detachment of the Wagner PMC with the call sign "Michael" was killed.

▪️ Meanwhile, in the north, militants linked to Al-Qaeda's JNIM group attempted a massive attack in the north of the country. The cities of Timbuktu, Bér and Gao came under attack.

The attempt to shell the airports was unsuccessful. As well as the use of suicide car bombs, they failed to break through the defense.

All attacks were repelled, and the government forces' retaliatory actions were more successful. Near Timbuktu, a group of 20 militants was discovered and neutralized.

▪️ Also, a large number of small groups and individual militant supply vehicles were destroyed with the help of aviation and UAVs.

🔻As can be seen, anti-government groups are increasingly suffering defeats in major operations, resorting to isolated sorties and mining roads. All this is a positive trend in ensuring peace in the country.

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🇷🇺🌍 Russia hosts African ministers to expand ties

Russia on Saturday opened the first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in the city of Sochi, seeking to deepen ties with African nations.

The conference is billed as building on last summer’s Russia-Africa summit, where Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted leaders from Africa, expanding political and business ties.

The two-day ministerial conference, which is attended by government and business leaders from Russia and across Africa, will continue in the same format regularly, said Anton Kobyakov, an adviser to Putin.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti that the conference “dashed dirty hopes” for Russia’s isolation.

Zakharova said that dozens of bilateral meetings were taking place between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and African representatives, hailing the “multipolarity” demonstrated by the event.

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🇷🇺🌍 Russia- Africa Partnership Gains 'More and More' Strength

African ministers attending the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum in Sochi have been assured of Russia's 'total support' to the continent in 'different sectors', reports the BBC.

The statement of support, made on behalf of Russian leader Vladimir Putin by his Foreign Minister, Sergie Lavrov, comes at a time when some African nations have severed ties with the West over accusations of interference or acts of neocolonialism.

Putin said his country's relations with Africa have been strengthening "more and more". Three countries in the Sahel region of Africa - Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso - recently turned their backs on former colonial power France.

Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop is reported to have said "Russia is not a Colonial power" - a reinforcement of Russia's position not to meddle in the internal Affairs of African nations. "On the contrary," the minister is quoted as saying, "it has stood shoulder to shoulder with the African peoples and other peoples around the world to help them emerge from the colonial system."

Putin promised to work with African nations in their "struggle against terrorism and extremism, combating epidemics, food problems and the consequences of natural disasters".

The Sochi meeting is the first Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, which the organizers say is to build on the success of the second Russia-Africa Summit held in 2023.

#Russia #Africa

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🇲🇱 Situation in Mali: Clashes in the center of the country and an ambush on a Wagner PMC convoy
Summary for November 1 - 25, 2024

Over the past month, fighting has erupted in the Mopti region of Mali, where radical Islamists from the Al-Qaeda-linked group "Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin" tried to strengthen their positions.

▪️Since the beginning of November, militants have infiltrated many villages near the city of Bandiagara, terrorizing the local population. In some of them, local self-defense units repelled the attacks.

After that, the region was placed under special surveillance by the armed forces. A significant number of UAVs and aircraft were involved to dislodge the radical Islamists from their occupied positions.

▪️Unfortunately, during the ground phase of the mopping-up operation in the villages, a cargo convoy of two vehicles with Wagner PMC fighters was ambushed by militants. The superior forces of the radical Islamists killed six Company fighters.

❗️It should be noted here that the interest is not in the incident itself, which is an integral part of combat operations, but in the reaction of the Western media, which, after the July ambush, have been more acutely responding to events in Mali.

In the context of increased attention to the Islamic State terrorists in Africa, a similar interest in the Al-Qaeda affiliates is also successfully turning into a story about the alleged inability of Russian specialists to secure the country.

This narrative is successfully embedded in the attempts of the collective West to establish a foothold in the Sahel, including through military initiatives. And through the French-language media, anti-Russian propaganda has long been undermining public trust in the Russians.

🔻Meanwhile, there are reshuffles at the highest level. Thus, Prime Minister Choguel Maiga was dismissed and replaced by Abdoulaye Maiga. The reason for his removal from office was his criticism of the transitional authorities and complaints about the restrictions on his powers.

The new Prime Minister is close to the current President of the country and is a more ardent supporter of the anti-French line. How this will affect the country and relations with foreign business - we will find out in the near future.

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🌍🇨🇳 China's top diplomat began his annual New Year tour of Africa, maintaining a 35-year-long tradition, to quietly advance Beijing's already sizeable influence across the resource-rich continent as Europe's presence wanes and America's wavers.

While global capitals and investors brace for the return of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and domestic politics keep German and French ministers occupied, Foreign Minister Wang Yi being in Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Chad and Nigeria highlights the consistency of China's engagement with Africa, analysts say.

#Africa #China

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🇮🇱🇸🇴🇺🇸 Where do they propose to send the Palestinians?

The plan proposed by Trump to resettle Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, while sounding absurd, should not be dismissed as unrealizable. This would not be the first time for the Palestinian territories. Only this time, as reported by Israeli media, the Arabs will be expelled to Africa.

▪️Among the proposed options are: Morocco and two autonomous regions of Somalia: Puntland and Somaliland. In all of these countries, pro-American authorities rule, and there is also a Sunni majority, which is allegedly supposed to facilitate the integration of Palestinians into society.

And if the Moroccan leadership has no need to accept refugees from Gaza, as there are doubts about what they will get in return, then the situation with the Somali regions is different.

▪️The separatists in Hargeisa have long been trying to get recognition from anyone, and at the beginning of last year they found support from Addis Ababa and among Republicans in the US. And with the advent of the new administration, they have tried to "appease" the Americans in every possible way, even offering a military base on their territory.

Plans to recognize Somaliland have long been on the agenda, and most likely will become a bargaining chip in order to force the Somaliland leadership to accept Palestinians. The situation is similar with Puntland.

▪️Thus, just the other day, the US Air Force struck terrorist positions in Puntland. This step was aimed, firstly, to maintain the image of fighters against terrorism, and also to strengthen the ties between the US authorities and the autonomous region. The authorities in Bosaso have severed ties with the federals since last year, so they are also trying to find external support.

🔻Given that there are certainly some contacts between Israel and all these countries, which resulted in a series of high-profile news headlines, Palestinians in the "new land" will remain under the supervision of the Israeli authorities. This is precisely what the ultra-Orthodox will try to achieve, as they will try to prevent the formation of Palestinian organizations even in the far corners.

Of course, no one will think about the living conditions of the Palestinians themselves, who will live in non-Arab-speaking regions under such a scenario.
#Africa #Israel #Somalia #USA
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