Islamic State’s Resurgence: Control Over Al Miskaad Mountain Range in Somalia
The Islamic State grouping in Somalia’s Puntland region reportedly has earned ground from al-Shabaab, its longtime enemy. The IS claims to have taken possession of the Al Miskaad mountain range. The groups have competed for control of strategic territory in the Bari district for eight years, according to a new report by the Emirates Policy […]
Putin’s Warning: West’s Actions Leading to Point of No Return
In a fiery address delivered at a gathering of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Vladimir Putin undertook a scathing attack on the United States and its Western allies, marking a substantial escalation in rhetoric amid the constant Ukraine-Russia conflict. Putin’s comments came on the heels of a newly signed 10-year security pact between the […]
Convictions of US Journalists in Russia Heighten Diplomatic Strain with the West
Wall Street Journal journalist and US citizen Evan Gershkovich was convicted to sixteen years in a Russian jail on espionage charges. The exact day, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporter Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist who carries dual American-Russian citizenship, was convicted for six and a half years by a Russian tribunal for supposedly spreading inaccurate information […]
Western Missiles and Ukrainian Tactics: A New Era in the Crimea Conflict
A mixture of Ukrainian ingenuity and Western-supplied long-range missiles is pushing the Russian occupation of Crimea increasingly untenable. The continued decline of Russia’s position on the Crimean peninsula is a significant blow to Kremlin prestige that also has potentially profound practical implications for the future of the war. In recent weeks, long-awaited collections of US […]
Mozambique’s Hidden War: Timber Smuggling and Terrorism
Millions of metric tons of illegally harvested timber smuggled from Mozambique to China are assisting in funding one of Africa’s most lethal insurgencies, according to a recently published report.mChina’s illegal trade in rosewood, calculated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year, is connected to the financing of Mozambique’s Islamic State-linked militants, according […]
Bribery Scandal Exposes Russia’s Growing ‘African Legion’ in Libya
Russian authorities in late April apprehended a high-ranking defence official on charges of large-scale bribery. An inquiry that led to the arrest of Maj. Gen. Timur Ivanov excavated a trail of corruption and the Kremlin’s ongoing efforts to expand its power in Libya, The Libyan Observer newspaper said. The investigation into Ivanov, who is accountable […]
Sudan’s Conflict Intensifies with Iranian Anti-Tank Missiles on Both Sides
Images recently publicised online reveal that both sides in Sudan’s yearlong battle have armed their fighters with Iranian anti-tank missiles. The exact origin of the Saeghe anti-tank guided missile system (ATGMS) remains ambiguous. Sudan’s state-owned weapons engineer manufactured the systems for many years, leading some critics to speculate that — in the case of the […]
Escalating Tensions: U.N. Security Council Clash Over North Korea’s Missile Launches
The United States and partners South Korea and Japan clashed with China and Russia over North Korea’s fresh satellite and ballistic missile launches and the dangers of using nuclear weapons that have escalated uncertainties in northeast Asia. The scene was a crisis open meeting of the U.N. Security Council called after North Korea’s failed takeoff […]
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as Sudanese Refugees Flee to Central African Republic
Sudan’s battle has started to spill into the Central African Republic as both flanks of the fight conduct functions along Sudan’s southwest border. According to the United Nations, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) undertook air raids on militia positions along the boundary, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have drafted fighters from rebel groups […]
Russia Accused of Flooding Libya with Counterfeit Currency to Aid Haftar
Russia meets fresh allegations of flooding Libyan markets with counterfeit banknotes in another bid to additionally destabilize the country. The Kremlin has a demonstrated history of sending phoney currency to Libyan National Army (LNA) leader Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) reported in April 2024 that it began withdrawing the foremost […]