Mali/Ansar Dine – A series of recent attacks targeting French, UN, and Malian forces throughout Mali has been claimed by the jihadist group Ansar Dine. The assaults ranged from the Kidal Region in the extreme north to the Timbuktu Region. Additional attacks blamed on Ansar Dine, but not yet claimed, have occurred as far south as just outside the capital, Bamako it was reported on the 7 Nov 16. Starting on the 29 Oct 16, Ansar Dine fired rockets into the main United Nations camp near the town of Kidal. No casualties were reported, but two Bangladeshi helicopters were damaged by the rockets. Two days later, the jihadist group claimed an IED blast targeting a French military vehicle near the town of Abeibara near the town of Aguelhok. On the 4 Nov 16, IED blast struck two French military vehicles, which killed one French soldier. On the same day, a third French vehicle was hit by an IED near Kidal. All three were claimed by Ansar Dine. Further south near Gourma in the Timbuktu Region, Ansar Dine claimed a complex assault on a National Guard post near the city. Ansar Dine’s forces were reportedly able to temporarily take control over the outpost. Additionally, the group claimed to capture 5 vehicles, burned another 6, and captured at least one DShK machine gun. It also reported that one of its own fighters was killed in that attack. Further south, two attacks that have yet to be claimed, but are widely suspected to have been the work of one of Ansar Dine’s branches in the southern half of the country. On the 6 Nov 16 a UN convoy near the town of Douentza in the Mopti Region was subjected to an IED and then a subsequent ambush. One Togolese peacekeeper was killed and seven others from the contingent were injured. Earlier today, Banamba, a town close to Bamako in the Koulikoro Region, was the scene of a large-scale assault. A National Guard outpost, a gendarme post, a bank, and a prison were all targeted in the multi-faceted assault. At the National Guard post, three vehicles were taken by the suspected jihadists. While at the prison, at least 21 prisoners escaped during the assault. These attacks, along with an unclaimed IED blast on a French vehicle near Aguelhok on the 7 Nov 16, puts the total number of al Qaeda-linked attacks in Mali and the wider West African region in 2016 at 203. The majority of claimed attacks have been the work of Ansar Dine, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s largely Tuareg front group.
Somalia/al-Shabaab – At least two soldiers were killed and five wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on the 5 Nov 16 near Somalia's parliament in the capital Mogadishu, according to police. The blast, which targeted an army convoy near the Sayidka junction checkpoint, was claimed by the armed group al-Shabaab. "Two soldiers died and five others were injured," Major Hussein Nur said adding that police, military and security forces were on the scene when the attack occurred. The attacker, who also was killed, was trying to cause the maximum number of casualties but failed as he struck only one of the convoy's vehicles. Al-Shabaab's radio station Andalus said a suicide car bomb had been driven by "a mujahid" into Sayidka junction "where a convoy of the apostate government security forces were passing". The group said it had killed 17 soldiers and injured more than 30 others in the attack. Al-Shabaab usually gives far lower numbers of casualties on its side and much higher death tolls for the security forces.
Somalia – Fighting between militias in Somalia's central Galkayo city killed at least 29 people and injured more than 50, officials from both sides said on the 7 Nov 16. Col Mohamed Aden, a military officer from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, said 16 soldiers serving in the region's army had been killed and 30 been injured since fighting broke out again on the 6 Nov 16. The region of Galmudug had 13 soldiers killed and 20 injured said Hirsi Yusuf Barre, the mayor of southern Galkayo. The two regions have a history of clashes and the latest round of fighting erupted after a dispute over buildings planned in Galkayo, a city that is divided between the two sides. But before these clashes, there had been a week-long ceasefire in place. Galmudug and Puntland are clashing in the town, which straddles their common border and is divided under the control of rival clan militias. As violence between these groups began to escalate a month ago, schools in Galkayo were forced to close and some people fled the town. Under terms of a ceasefire deal mediated by Dubai and which was welcomed by the two sides and Somalia's federal president, forces of both regions were supposed to be withdrawn from the disputed area this past week. The deal also called for those who had fled Galkayo due to previous fighting to be allowed to return. Somalia has been gripped by conflict since the downfall of Mohamed Siad Barre in early 1990s, and the armed al-Shabaab group has been one of the main causes of unrest in the last two decades.
Tunisia – Tunisia’s national security council on the 7 Nov 16 adopted a strategy to fight “terrorism and extremism,” two days after ISIS said it had killed a soldier. The North African country has experienced a rise in religious extremism since the 2011 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Its security forces have been battling a militant movement responsible for killing dozens of soldiers and police officers as well as civilians including 59 foreign tourists. The presidency, in a statement, said the “national strategy to fight against extremism and terrorism” is built around the four main axes of “prevention, protection, judicial proceedings and retaliation.” It gave no further details about the plan, but said it had been discussed with members of civil society during its preparation and by government ministers and security top brass. The national security council is headed by President Beji Caid Essebsi. On Sunday ISIS, which has claimed three major attacks on Tunisian soil last year alone that claimed the lives of more than 70 people, said it was behind Saturday’s murder of a soldier. He was killed at his home in a central region that is a major hideout for militant groups.
Somalia/al-Shabaab – At least two soldiers were killed and five wounded in a suicide car bomb attack on the 5 Nov 16 near Somalia's parliament in the capital Mogadishu, according to police. The blast, which targeted an army convoy near the Sayidka junction checkpoint, was claimed by the armed group al-Shabaab. "Two soldiers died and five others were injured," Major Hussein Nur said adding that police, military and security forces were on the scene when the attack occurred. The attacker, who also was killed, was trying to cause the maximum number of casualties but failed as he struck only one of the convoy's vehicles. Al-Shabaab's radio station Andalus said a suicide car bomb had been driven by "a mujahid" into Sayidka junction "where a convoy of the apostate government security forces were passing". The group said it had killed 17 soldiers and injured more than 30 others in the attack. Al-Shabaab usually gives far lower numbers of casualties on its side and much higher death tolls for the security forces.
Somalia – Fighting between militias in Somalia's central Galkayo city killed at least 29 people and injured more than 50, officials from both sides said on the 7 Nov 16. Col Mohamed Aden, a military officer from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, said 16 soldiers serving in the region's army had been killed and 30 been injured since fighting broke out again on the 6 Nov 16. The region of Galmudug had 13 soldiers killed and 20 injured said Hirsi Yusuf Barre, the mayor of southern Galkayo. The two regions have a history of clashes and the latest round of fighting erupted after a dispute over buildings planned in Galkayo, a city that is divided between the two sides. But before these clashes, there had been a week-long ceasefire in place. Galmudug and Puntland are clashing in the town, which straddles their common border and is divided under the control of rival clan militias. As violence between these groups began to escalate a month ago, schools in Galkayo were forced to close and some people fled the town. Under terms of a ceasefire deal mediated by Dubai and which was welcomed by the two sides and Somalia's federal president, forces of both regions were supposed to be withdrawn from the disputed area this past week. The deal also called for those who had fled Galkayo due to previous fighting to be allowed to return. Somalia has been gripped by conflict since the downfall of Mohamed Siad Barre in early 1990s, and the armed al-Shabaab group has been one of the main causes of unrest in the last two decades.
Tunisia – Tunisia’s national security council on the 7 Nov 16 adopted a strategy to fight “terrorism and extremism,” two days after ISIS said it had killed a soldier. The North African country has experienced a rise in religious extremism since the 2011 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. Its security forces have been battling a militant movement responsible for killing dozens of soldiers and police officers as well as civilians including 59 foreign tourists. The presidency, in a statement, said the “national strategy to fight against extremism and terrorism” is built around the four main axes of “prevention, protection, judicial proceedings and retaliation.” It gave no further details about the plan, but said it had been discussed with members of civil society during its preparation and by government ministers and security top brass. The national security council is headed by President Beji Caid Essebsi. On Sunday ISIS, which has claimed three major attacks on Tunisian soil last year alone that claimed the lives of more than 70 people, said it was behind Saturday’s murder of a soldier. He was killed at his home in a central region that is a major hideout for militant groups.
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