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Paweł Wójcik 🦋

@saladinaldronni.bsky.social

5.5K followers 120 following 400 posts

Researcher. Terrorism, conflicts, jihadi crime networks, IS/AQ, Central and South-East Asia. Now, also following Islamic State's plans in Africa. Politics in the Sahel. Writing for hire. DM. @saladinaldronni on X/Twitter https://ko-fi.com/saladinaldronni

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Nov 21

New post, a bit guiding through the recent Sahel terror events. On IS Sahel and JNIM competing in Niger, attacks, rise in power, Libya, IS Central.
What I found interesting to say.
open.substack.com/pub/saladina...

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 27

Breaking.
At least 21 people were killed on Sunday in an attack on church premises in Komanda, eastern Congo by Islamic State jihadists.

Several houses and shops were also burnt.
apnews.com/article/cong...

At least 21 killed in attack on east Congo church by Islamic State-backed rebels, civil leader says

At least 21 people were killed in an attack on church premises in eastern Congo by Islamic State-backed rebels, according to a civil society leader.

apnews.com

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 25

And if the rumours are confirmed later today on who was caught in al-Bab in Syria, it may be a quite painful day for the Islamic State global. Allegedly the Islamic State spokesman may have been the target of joint Damascus - CENTCOM operation in north Syria.

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 25

From a rare good news-Puntland forces have nabbed Mohammad Yusuf, chief financer of Islamic State Somalia and in recent years key person among a few in financing Islamic State operations worldwide. After the Omani external ops emir the most significant catch this year. #Somalia

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 22

If they don't regain access to the border this year, the prospect of the regime's in Bamako potential fall and the question of Russian capability will be unveiled.

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 22

despite the nominally friendly relations with Russia at expense with Europe.
The Russian convoy will soon be facing the same challenge it faced a year ago, when the battle of Tinzawaten ensued and over 80 Russians were killed in a trap.

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 22

enraging Mauritania and Algeria that have had enough of the Russian presence exacerbating the greatest crisis in decades on their borders.
Algeria has in recent days again protested against any presence of the Russian military in the vicinity of their border with Mali,

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 22

The pressure they apply on the Tuaregs both in media and on the ground is significantly worse than against the al-Qaeda jihadists, with Berber, Arab and Fulani civilians ethnicly cleansed and massacred,

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 22

By doing this, they completely abandon surveillance and operations against what should be the priority - JNIM's entrenching in western Mali and waging permanent warfare in Central part of the country.

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 22

Probably the most telling thing in this war in Mali is the fact, that the junta has in recent weeks exclusively transfered majority of its Turkish drones to monitor and protect the Russian convoy slowly getting ahead with a slow place, harassed by both JNIM and FLA.

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 22

Niger: Citizen movement plans march in Niamey to demand justice, security and release of topelled president Bazoum amid growing insecurity exacerbated by the military junta
airinfoagadez.com/2025/07/21/n...

Niger : un mouvement citoyen prévoit une marche à Niamey pour réclamer justice, sécurité et libération de Bazoum

Le Mouvement Indépendant pour un Niger Nouveau dans la Justice et l’Égalité (MINNJE) a adressé ce 21 juillet une déclaration au délégué spécial de la ville de Niamey, l’informant de son…

airinfoagadez.com

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 20

How stolen cattle links Ghana to the jihadist conflict in the Sahel.

JNIM established a chain of intermediaries and bought off policemen to legitimize illicit trade and add another chapter to the group's increasing profits financing Sahel's conquest.
www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/202...

How stolen cattle links Ghana to the jihadist conflict in the Sahel

Cattle rustling is a profitable revenue stream for insurgents and threatens the stability of the West African region.

www.thenewhumanitarian.org

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 19

Shabaab seizes two towns in central Somalia, completing a full reversal of Mogadishu government gains since 2022 and threatening to seize new territory, while the US is focused on fighting Islamic State in Puntland with intensified drone warfare.
www.longwarjournal.org/archives/202...

Shabaab seizes two towns in central Somalia

Shabaab has reasserted its dominance in the Hiiran region in central Somalia. The Al Qaeda branch’s takeover of the towns of Moqokori and Tardo effectively completes the rollback of the government's o...

www.longwarjournal.org

Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 18

As Iran deports a million Afghans, "Where do we even go"

Afghans being forced out of Iran are grappling with an uncertain future in Afghanistan, where widespread poverty and severe restrictions on women and girls await.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/w...

As Iran Deports a Million Afghans, ‘Where Do We Even Go?’

www.nytimes.com

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 18

Rise in al Qaeda attacks revives spectre of West African caliphate
www.reuters.com/world/europe...

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 18

The Russian convoy in Anefis aiming for far North has been stuck in the town for weeks, after Tuaregs and al-Qaeda sat all over desert and are waiting for it to appear. First mini-battle between Anefis and Kidal resulted in the win for FLA. Tensions remain high.

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 18

The Tuaregs (FLA) call on all civilians near the FAMA/Russian occupied bases and cities of northern Mali to immediately relocate 100 km away. The organization says battles against the regime and allies are imminent. #Mali

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 17

Silently, the group has been able to develop a lot of things that are impossible for other affiliates, even Central. And that already has resulted in Nigeria asking questions what is going on again.

Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 17

The fact that ISWAP is now able to churn out the same propaganda quantity ISKP could have before propagandists were arrested in Pakistan and Canada is the fact that will be increasingly clear in the next few months,if it's not already.
An event that is completely underestimated.

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 17

Next step is the one his fellow military leader from Mali just introduced - skip elections, and give himself a permanent presidential mandate with no need for elections.
x.com/SaladinAlDronnhttps://f24.my/BJ3m

Mali junta chief Assimi Goïta grants his own unlimited presidential mandate

Malian junta chief Assimi Goïta on Thursday approved a law granting him a five-year presidential mandate, renewable "as many times as necessary" and without election.

f24.my

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 17

Burkina Faso military ruler abolishes electoral commission.
The interior ministry will handle elections in the future, state-run RTB TV reported.
The Burkina Faso dictator last year extended transitional period to five years, going back on his word.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Burkina Faso's military rulers abolish electoral commission

The military authorities said it was a waste of money and the government will run elections itself.

www.bbc.com

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 17

Senegal: Historic ceremony to mark the end of the permanent presence of the French army
The French military's withdrawal from Senegal,which began last March, concluded Thursday, signifying the end of the French military presence in West and Central Africa.
f24.my/BJrj

Sénégal : cérémonie historique pour marquer la fin de la présence permanente de l'armée française

Entamé en mars dernier, le retrait de l'armée française du Sénégal s'est achevé jeudi matin avec une cérémonie historique après soixante-cinq ans de présence permanente dans ce pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Depuis…

f24.my

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 12

I wanted to record a YT Eng video today, but I am feeling very bad, it's been a while it was this bad. Hoping for tommow.

Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 12

After watching new JNIM videos from the West Mali campaign I double down on my opinion that it's a strategic victory, and no longer really looking like a defeat as initially thought of by others. Things from Mauritanian border they raided, Kayes and others are just that crucial.

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 12

Syria after Assad: Journey through a war-ravaged nation in transition by @simnasr.bsky.social
www.france24.com/en/middle-ea...

Syria after Assad: Journey through a war-ravaged nation in transition

Seven months after the fall of Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad, FRANCE 24’s Wassim Nasr gained access to sites across the war-ravaged nation, some of which have long been inaccessible to jour...

www.france24.com

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Paweł Wójcik 🦋 @saladinaldronni.bsky.social · Jul 11

The rest is either held back by propaganda nonsense of pan-Africans paid by Moscow, and direct Russian or increased Chinese lobbying and meddling. While cooperation with Ukraine can benefit the whole ECOWAS that is in dire need of thing Ukraine can provide.

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