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Conflict Research

@conflictwatch.bsky.social

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Irish 🇮🇪 Remote Operations Security Advisor. Based in Africa, monitoring conflict principally in North Africa & the Sahel Region. https://www.instagram.com/conflict_watch68

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · Jun 16

This is a sideline project from my actual day job, the idea is to focus on the largely unreported events primarily in the Sahel but also covering other countries in North Africa.
I am occasionally offline, I do occasionally miss events (tips are welcome via DM).
Questions are ALWAYS welcome.

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 43m

Video posted to Wagner / Africa Corps Telegram channel showing Mi-24 helicopters tasked to protect fuel convoys in #Mali

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 2h

13.10 #Libya
A young boy was killed and several civilians were injured when shells struck a residential area in the city of Al Zawiya, west the Tripoli.

The security situation has been tense for a prolonged period of time and inter-factional fighting is commonplace in the Western Libyan capital.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 3h

13.10 #Mali
JNM video footage of the ambush of the convoy between Kolondieba and Kidiana.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 3h

More exact location appears to be Madiakoye (16.75037° -2.36476°) 50kms west of Gourma Rharous.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 3h

13.10 #Mali
Video has been posted showing a number of civilians wounded and killed including children reportedly following a Security Forces drone strike outside of Gourma-Rharous in the Timbuktu region.

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 6h

Security Forces issued a statement that they had carried out an operation on the 04.10 against JNIM fighters still present in the Farabougou area since their attack on the town since their attack in late August.
A JNIM field commander N'Dour was killed in the operation.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 6h

13.10 #Mali
JNIM claimed responsibility detonating an IED against a Security Forces patrol on the main road between Kita and Bamako

The group also attacked a convoy between Kolondieba and Kidiana, Sikasso region on the border with Ivory Coast this morning.

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 9h

The Algerian government has approved a record $25 billion defense budget for 2026 — the largest in the country’s history — amid growing security concerns across the Sahel region
defence-blog.com/algeria-to-s...

Algeria to spend billions preparing for war

The Algerian government has approved a record $25 billion defense budget for 2026 — the largest in the country’s history — amid growing security concerns across the Sahel region, The Clash Report said...

defence-blog.com

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 10h

The video clip they use to show the guy they claim is Boubakar doesn’t have his face blurred which goes against IS-SP practice.
They really only show faces of low level players or guys already dead.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 10h

13.10 #Niger
IS-SP reportedly carried out a kidnapping in the Anzourou area on the Tillabéri-Ayorou road when the stopped a 4x4 and removed the occupants.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 10h

Malian national television segment on the airstrikes.
Russian language Telegram channels have stated that IS-SP field commanders Boubakar "Demuguya", Ismael Ould Habib & Ahmed Ould Alwane Ould Shogiba were killed, however there is no conclusive evidence of this.

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 12h

11.10 #Mali
For the second time this week Security Forces of the AES nations carried out air strikes against IS-SP targets close to the border with Niger in the Ti Dinbawi Depression area of the Gao region.

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 1d

JNIM Attacks in Western Mali Reshape Sahel Conflict
africacenter.org/spotlight/jn...

JNIM Attacks in Western Mali Reshape Sahel Conflict – Africa Center

Recent JNIM attacks in western Mali are targeting the economic, security, and political vulnerabilities of the military junta in Bamako.

africacenter.org

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 1d

04 militia killed in clashes end of September / beginning of October.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 1d

11.10 #Niger
There are reports that militia units in the Tillaberi region of Niger clashed with IS-SP at Mangaize leaving 02 militia dead.
There are regular reports of clashes in the region and militia being killed by IS-SP who are the dominant terror group in the area.

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 1d

12.10 #BurkinaFaso
JNIM has released an official statement on the ambush between Djibo and Namsiguia stating that they killed 90 members of the Security Forces from Rapid Intervention Brigades 5 & 28 along with members of the FORSATEC Special Forces unit.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 1d

09.10 #Mali
Security Forces issued a statement that they had conducted airstrikes against IS-SP at Inarabane, in the Menaka region along with targets near Kolondieba, Zegoua and Heremakono in the Sikasso region.

They also state that Security Forces had pushed back an assault at Zantiguila.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 2d

He went on to say that civilians should not travel with members of the Security Forces and should refuse to travel with Security Forces escorts, or they would be viewed as legitimate targets.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 2d

09.10 #Mali
Abu Huzeifa al-Bambari, JNIM commander, released a new video statement giving instructions to civilians that they are free to travel but if stopped by JNIM fighters they have nothing to fear but they should comply with instructions to be controlled.

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 2d

#France has issued a revised travel alert strongly advising against all travel to #Mali now including the capital Bamako.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 2d

#France #Terrorism #EuropeanSecurity
A young man living in the Paris region was charged this week with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts — He was in contact with Islamic State operatives and said he was ready for armed jihad and to go to the Sahel.
www.laprovence.com/article/fait...

Photos avec la Tour Eiffel, tutoriels téléchargés... suspecté de projets d'actes terroristes, un jeune homme écroué

www.laprovence.com

Reposted by Conflict Research

Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 3d

Universities teach journalism, law, even coding — so why not open-source research?
We spoke with @utrechtuniversity.bsky.social 's Open-Source Global Justice Investigations Lab about bringing investigation skills into the classroom.
🎧 Listen on Stage Talks with Bellingcat: rss.com/podcasts/bel...

"Student Researchers Vs The Misinformation Machine" with Utrecht University | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

This week, we were discussing how open source research can help build vital factchecking skills across disciplines. We spoke to Prof. dr. Brianne McGonigle Leyh, a professor and one of the leaders of ...

rss.com

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 2d

Does the Sahel Pose a Transnational Terror Threat?
by #LucasWebber #SoufanCenter
thesoufancenter.org/intelbrief-2...

Does the Sahel Pose a Transnational Terror Threat? - The Soufan Center

In late February, Moroccan counterterrorism authorities arrested a dozen people accused of planning attacks on behalf of the Islamic State’s (IS) Sahel branch. The plot reportedly involved the remote ...

thesoufancenter.org

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 2d

According to the news site Tankara. net 125 members of the Security Forces were killed in the ambush.
I can't vouch for the accuracy of this site however.

Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 2d

09.10 #BurkinaFaso
There are unconfirmed reports that between 50 & 80 members of the Security Forces were killed in the JNIM ambush of a Security Forces convoy between Djibo and Namsiguia.
JNIM posted video of the attack.