Regional Overview – Africa
27 November 2018
Key trends in Africa in the week of November 18th include the large campaigns launched against Islamist militants in Mali and Somalia and the high Boko Haram activity in Niger and Nigeria. Other relevant developments include the political tensions in DRC and Gabon, and the multiplication of protests in Tunisia.
Large international campaigns were launched against militants in Mali and Somalia last week. In Mali, French Barkhane forces carried out a major air and ground operation against Katiba Macina militants between Farimake and Dogo (Mopti region) on November 22nd. Thirty-four militants were killed, including two senior commanders, among whom likely the JNIM Emir of the Macina Region, Amadou Kouffa. France has carried out three operations with direct engagement previously in Mopti. However, these engagements were further north, in areas which were under militant control during the 2012-2013 crisis. In Somalia, the US carried out several airstrikes against al-Shabaab in the Galkayo and Harardheere districts of Mudug region over November 19-20th. At least 43 militants were reportedly killed. In the following days, the Somali National Army launched a number of large-scale attacks against al-Shabaab in areas of Lower Shabelle, killing a reported 28 militants and recovering a modest amount of territorial control.
Read more at: https://www.acleddata.com/2018/11/27/regional-overview-africa-27-november-2018/
and https://twitter.com/MENASTREAM
Okay, I don't know the total ins and outs of this map but the Newsweek article was saying, without sufficient backup may I add, that the US was withdrawing some in Africa.
Look at that map, it looks like a bit of a mess. And most likely, has looked somewhere in this neighborhood for years, even decades.
