HARGEISA, Somaliland (HORN OBSERVER) – The Somaliland officials have announced their willingness to allow the United States to establish a military base in the strategic coastal city of Berbera, as part of an effort to strengthen ties with Washington.

Bashir Good, Somaliland’s representative to the U.S., confirmed that the administration is open to hosting a U.S. military presence in Berbera, seeing it as a move that would benefit both Somaliland and the United States.

“Somaliland is prepared to provide a military base to the United States if it aligns with the mutual interests of both parties,” said Bashir Good.

Berbera, located on the Gulf of Aden, holds a key position on international maritime routes. Its proximity to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a vital shipping route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, makes it a highly strategic location for military and commercial interests.

The city has long been central to Somaliland’s economic and security considerations.

In May 2022, a U.S. AFRICOM military plane was seen at Berbera Airport during a visit by AFRICOM officials, highlighting the growing military interest in the region.

Somaliland’s efforts to solidify its international standing include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ethiopia, granting the landlocked nation access to the Red Sea via Berbera.

This agreement is seen as a potential pathway for Somaliland to gain international recognition in exchange for facilitating Ethiopia’s maritime access.

In addition, Somaliland has an existing agreement with the UAE’s Dubai Ports World to manage and develop the Berbera Port, a deal that has included provisions for a military base.

The UAE has already established a military presence in the region, further cementing Berbera’s strategic significance.

Bashir Good also reiterated Somaliland’s broader ambitions, emphasizing the region’s commitment to building diplomatic and cooperative relations with the U.S. and other nations as an independent state.

Despite these efforts, Somaliland continues to pursue international recognition as a sovereign state independent from Somalia. However, no country has officially recognized Somaliland’s independence to date.

Until Israel did, just the other day. Not a coincidence!

Orion Forum, Africa, Defense & Security

In the face of evolving threats throughout the region, Somaliland, a self-declared state in northern Somalia, presents a critical opportunity. A stable, self-governing, democratic state with access to the strategic port of Berbera, Somaliland offers the United States an alternative location, outside of Djibouti, to strengthen its military posture in the region. However, Somaliland is not internationally recognized.[i] Despite this, the U.S. is reportedly in talks with Somaliland leaders, considering making a deal: providing long-sought international recognition in exchange for U.S. access to both the port and airstrip in Somaliland. These talks support the premise that continued reliance on Djibouti alone, the only U.S. military base in Africa, is no longer sufficient in protecting U.S. interests. Establishing a base in Somaliland would expand the U.S. military footprint across the region, enable rapid response to the growing Houthi threat impacting major global trade routes, combat China’s expanding influence along one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors and throughout East Africa, and enhance counterterrorism operations against organizations like Al-Shabaab.

The question is not whether the United States should expand its presence — but how the U.S. can accomplish this task without disrupting security in the region.

Gee how can the US accomplish this sleight of hand? By having Israel “recognize” Somaliland and the US will follow suit.
It’s a given the US is standing firmly behind the Israeli move to recognize Somaliland.

Donald Trump claims to be “studying” this move- Utter bullocks!

He won’t quickly follow Israel’s move- Cause the US is already in the lead covertly.

President Trump told The Post that he won’t quickly follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recognizing the independence of Somaliland — saying he has to “study” his longtime Mideast ally’s pitch on behalf of the breakaway republic.

He doesn’t have to study anything! What a dog and pony show!

The plane crash in Turkey caught my eye a few days ago- The Libyan government (UN recognized official government of Libya) & Turkish government relationship is frowned up on by Israel, Greece, Cyprus, UK and the US. There is some way back reporting at my former site on this subject, if time permits it will be moved here. Haftar is allied to the US and Israel. Let’s say the US made him the man he is today. If you’ve been paying attention to Trump’s rhetoric regarding Somalia- He was trash talking for a reason- just not the reason most think.

We’ll go with the plane crash first- It’s unsurprising that a good chunk of the officially recognized government went down in the crash- By the way this recent plane crash reminds me so very much of the plane crash about 15 years ago that dead headed the Polish government- The one that was wanting friendlier relations with Russia? I did bring those reports here from my former site. Check em out via the search!

Warning…..we’re going long!

Euronews

General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, military chief of Libya’s UN-recognised government in Tripoli, died with seven others when the plane crashed near the Turkish capital Ankara.

The Falcon 50 business jet crashed in the Haymana district some 70 kilometres south of Ankara shortly after takeoff from Esenboga International Airport, killing all eight people on board.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, who leads the Government of National Unity based in Tripoli, confirmed the deaths in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday evening.

“It is with deep sadness and great sorrow that we learnt of the death of the Libyan army’s chief of general staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Haddad,” Dbeibah said, calling the incident a “tragic accident”.

Key military officials died in the crash as well

Four other senior Libyan military officials died in the crash alongside al-Haddad, including General Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, head of Libya’s ground forces, Brigadier General Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, director of the Military Manufacturing Authority, an advisor to the chief of staff and a military photographer.

Something happened with that plane- I’m leaning towards sabotage myself. Wildly speculative, but it makes so much sense when you understand the back ground and the likely geo political ramifications of that crash & those deaths.

Three crew members also died in the crash. Turkish officials said the jet was registered in Malta and had been leased. The identities of the crew members were not immediately released.

Libya has announced it will send a team to Ankara to work with Turkish authorities on investigating the crash. Walid Ellafi, state minister of political affairs and communication for the Government of National Unity, told Libyan broadcaster Libya Alahrar that it was not clear when a crash report would be ready.

The country is split between the UN-recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Dbeibah, and a rival administration in eastern Libya led by military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Turkey has been allied with Libya’s government in the west, providing economic and military support, though Ankara has recently taken steps to improve ties with the eastern-based government as well.

General Khalifa Haftar, who controls eastern Libya, issued a statement expressing his “deep sorrow over this tragic loss” and extended condolences for the deaths of al-Haddad and Ghraibil.

Haftar is a snake in the grass

Pro-Haftar Libyan official opposes 2019 deal with Türkiye (Dec 17/25)

There’s coverage of this deal at my censored site-

In the fall of 2019, Türkiye and Libya signed a deal setting marine jurisdictions, rejecting unilateral and illegal activities by regional countries and international firms, and protecting the rights of both countries. The deal was registered by the U.N. in October 2020.

So a plane crashes… just after a huge arms deal is made Between Haftar’s forces and Pakistan. The arms will surely be used to challenge the unity government

Pakistan said to have reached $4 billion arms deal with Haftar’s forces in Libya

The deal is said to include the purchase of 16 JF-17 fighter jets, a multi-role combat aircraft that has been jointly developed by Pakistan and China.
Pakistan has reportedly reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army (LNA), based in the eastern part of the country, despite a UN arms embargo on the fractured North African country.

The deal, one of Pakistan’s largest-ever weapons sales, was finalised after a meeting held last week in Benghazi week between Pakistan military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of the LNA and son of eastern Libya strongman Khalifa Haftar, Pakistani officials told Reuters.

The officials, all involved in defence matters, declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the deal.

Generally speaking Pakistan has always been heavily allied, subordinated to the US.

Understanding that US backed Israel is looking for trouble with Turkey, as mentioned here. we shouldn’t be surprised to now find out Israel, yes, Israel recognizes Somaliland. Which is Somalia or it was until other interested parties became involved in the separatist aspirations

Israel slights Turkey by recognizing Somaliland

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recognized Somaliland on Friday, making Israel the first country to do so and prompting a strong rebuke from Turkey.

What happened: Netanyahu said Israel and Somaliland signed a “joint and mutual declaration.” Netanyahu and Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi were present at the virtual ceremony, the Israeli premier said on X.

“The State of Israel plans to immediately expand its relations with the Republic of Somaliland through extensive cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, technology and economy,” said Netanyahu.

In a video posted by his office, Netanyahu said he would inform US President Donald Trump of Somaliland’s desire to join the Abraham Accords.

“I’ll communicate to President Trump your willingness and desire to join the Abraham Accords,” said Netanyahu on the US-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and other states in the wider region.

Abdillahi said in a post on X that he affirms Somaliland’s “readiness” to join the accords.

Somaliland is a breakaway state from Somalia that has governed itself since 1991.

The Somaliland presidency said in a post on X that Netanyahu’s decision “affirms Somaliland’s enduring statehood,” adding that Netanyahu invited Abdillahi to visit Israel.

The announcement was made during a virtual meeting and the two leaders spoke by video call, according to images released by Netanyahu’s office. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar held a call of his own with Abdillahi on Friday to discuss bilateral ties, he said on X.

The recognition provoked the ire of Turkey, a country already at odds with Israel. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli called the recognition a “new example of the Netanyahu government’s unlawful actions aimed at creating instability at both regional and global levels.”

Oh and if you’ve been paying attention Donald Trump was talking non stop about Somalia this past little while- As well as bombing Somalia in escalating attacks.

US dramatically escalates air strikes on Somalia under Trump this year

Trump’s strike total on conflict-ridden East African nation exceeds Bush, Obama and Biden administrations combined

Let’s talk about Bob al Mandeb

Bob al Mandeb is a strategic choke point and definitely has something to do with the Somalia/Somaliland – Israel, Turkey conflagaration

Trump’s relentless diatribes served a purpose. Just not the one most people thought it did!

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=41073

Just the basics

Israel has greenlighted plans for 3,5000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, while Israeli media report that the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expecting to be in Gaza for at least 10 years with the initial stage of war lasting 1-2 years, following by eights years of stabilizing a new alternative government (possibly). A rival for Israeli PM in the next elections, war cabinet minister Benny Gatz, also visited the White House this week, without Netanyahu.

Israeli representatives have been doing the rounds here in Canada offering up occupied land for sale.

Lithuanian intelligence summarized by the Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russia is capable of maintaining its current momentum in the near term and is unlikely to give up on any of its objectives. With elections looming on March 24, a Putin victory will be his final vote for the legitimacy of the war on Ukraine, and once he has secured the presidency, he may proceed with unpopular decisions that he can’t afford during campaign time (such as mobilization).

Additionally, Lithuanian intelligence assessed that Moscow is preparing for a confrontation with NATO in the Baltic Sea region in the longer term, keeping in mind that Sweden was just accepted as a NATO member (right after Finland), and it won’t go unanswered.

So Sweden and Finland enter NATO and Moscow is preparing for confrontation. Because they will be confronted, obviously.

Iran said it would unload $50 million in crude oil that it seized a year ago aboard the Advantage Sweet, chartered by Chevron. At the time, Iran had accused the vessel of colliding with an Iranian boat.

Turkey’s Dortyol oil terminal will stop receiving Russian oil imports after ratcheting up to new highs last year as the United States continues its pressure campaign on those who seek to do business with Russia. Turkey – along with India and China – has become one of Russia’s most prolific importers of the sanctioned nation’s crude since Russia’s military campaign on Ukraine.

Houthi militants killed three sailors on a Liberian-owned commercial vessel (dry cargo) on Wednesday, prompting a massive jump in vessels anchoring outside the Suez Canal, unsure of whether to proceed through the Red Sea.

Turkey has signed an intergovernmental energy deal with Somalia this week, after signing a defense deal in February. The deal includes exploration, evaluation, development, and production of oil in Somalia onshore and off. The deal strengthens Turkey’s position in the Horn of Africa. Turkey said that offshore exploration will start “very soon” in specific areas, with the first phase possibly including seismic vessel deployment. The deal encompasses transportation, distribution, refining, sales, and services for oil projects.

Discovery & Development

Sempra expects to have its commercial operations for Energia Costa Azul LNG Phase 1 project ready by next summer, with a nameplate capacity of 3.25 mtpa, or 0.43 Bcf/d. The project is located in Baja California, Mexico. The Biden Administration approved LNG permits for Sempra to export nat gas from Texas and other states from the $2B export terminal back in April last year after some strong-arming by Senator Ted Cruz, who complained that the DoE was dragging its heels.

BP and Harbour Energy are developing plans for Phase 3 of the Clair oilfield offshore the UK, with the target area likely encompassing Clair South–one of the UK’s largest offshore reservoirs.BP drilled four wells last year in Clair Phase 1 and Clair Ridge, and three wells at Schiehallion. Drilling in those areas will continue this year as well. Harbour, as operator, just completed development drilling at its three-well subsea tieback to the Judy Platform known as Talbot, with first oil expected to come near the end of the year.

Eni announced a new oil, gas, and condensate discovery off the Ivory Coast with its Murene-1 exploration well. Eni said its potential resources could total as much as 1.5 billion boe, marking the company’s second huge hydrocarbon discovery off the Ivory Coast over the last few years.

Total and QatarEnergy will increase its exploration efforts in the Orange Basin offshore Namibia through an acquisition of a nearby license in the basin. The two companies signed an agreement to snap up participating interests in Block 3B/4B offshore South Africa from Africa Oil South Africa, Azinam, and Riccocure. When the deal is complete, Total will hold a 33% participating interest in the block and will be operator. QatarEnergy will hold a 24% stake.

China’s state-owned CNOOC announced a major discovery of over 100 million tons of oil equivalent proved in place in a new reserve in the South China Sea in the deepwater South oilfield. The reserve is said to contain light crude.

Clearly oil and gas still has lots of potential for profit- In spite of the green agenda, green hoax and green washing.

Amidst the horrific devastation in eastern Libya the Canadian media has largely refused to mention the central role NATO’s war played in the country’s instability.

In a report on the thousands killed by flooding in eastern Libya Global National offered some context to the tragedy that’s thought to have left over 10,000 dead. It noted, “once one of Africa’s most prosperous countries, decades of lawlessness have left Libya fragile.” But the three-minute clip omitted any mention of NATO’s 2011 war in creating that lawlessness. Commanded by Canadian General Charles Bouchard, seven Canadian fighter jets, two naval vessels and special forces participated in NATO’s six-month assault.

A front-page Globe and Mail story on the deadly flooding reported that the country’s “divided authority delayed flood warnings” and “years of wars and military clashes across Libya have left cities vulnerable.” But, the article spread over two full pages in the middle of the paper failed to mention a war in which NATO dropped 20,000 bombs on almost 6,000 targets.

The media hasn’t always been reticent to discuss Canadian intervention into Libya. The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, National Post and Vancouver Sun all published editorials endorsing the 2011 war. After six-months of fighting the federal government organized an $850,000 nationally televised celebration for Canada’s “military heroes,” which included flyovers from a dozen military aircraft. Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the 300 military personnel brought in from four bases: “We are celebrating a great military success.”

At a ceremony held in the Senate, General Bouchard was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General and PM for leading the NATO mission. Bouchard was also made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

The war celebrations were a cross party affair. After Gaddafi was savagely killed interim Liberal leader Bob Rae commended the Canadian military and NDP leader Nycole Turmel released a statement noting, “the future of Libya now belongs to all Libyans. Our troops have done a wonderful job in Libya over the past few months.”

Yup, Canada did a bang up job in Libya.

I’m not using bang up to mean excellent. I'm using it to mean destroyed, damaged, very, very badly

Here’s one I published in 2014 at my old site- That post had 1000’s of reads- This was before the internet became as heavily censored as it has. Including the taking down of my site- Sadly the url to original source are not working. So, what I can access below is as good as it will get!

https://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.com/2014/04/libya-other-side-of-story.html?zx=504101c8e5339140

The Libyan people were one of the least developed in the world when Gaddafi came to power in September, 1969. Under the Senussi monarchy, Libya was one of the poorest countries in the world with an annual income of less than sixty dollars per capita.

Muammar Gaddafi based his system on Arab socialism and utilised the vast petroleum wealth to remarkably improve the people’s standard of living in the Arab world and Africa. Most Libyan families now own a home and a car. The public health service is free, and is one of the best in the Arab world and so is education, compulsory and widely open to women.

Hospitals and pharmacies in Libya are of international standards and any costs incurred at treatment abroad are paid for by the State.

The country has an impressive urban infrastructure that includes well-built road networks, motorways, telecommunication system, water and electricity and other key amenities.

Can you imagine this? Ghadaffi and his tribal bretheren rid the country of the despotic king and in less then 50 years, less then 50 years builds a thriving modern state for the people of Libya. And it took just a very short time for NATO sorties to destroy it all.

The Great Man Made River Project-

^*What’s so very interesting about this project was the involvement of SNC Lavalin- In my opinion, Canada, attempted to distance itself from this project by portraying SNC Lavalin in a negative light– SNC Lavalin has recently rebranded to AtkinsRéalis in an attempt to forge a new identity

Muammar Gaddafi initiated a unique Libyan project, the “Great Man Made River”, that brought water from under the Sahara Desert in the south of Libya and made it available to coastal cities in the north. The Libyan dictator believed that wars will be fought over access to water throughout the Arab lands in coming years and its control could become even more decisive than petroleum reserves. Hence came his solution to tap the water reserves in various basins of the desert.
Foundation of this colossal project was laid in 1984 with an estimated cost of $5 billion. Massive machines pump water from aquifers in Sahara desert in the southern part of the country. The ‘Great Manmade River’ consists of more than 1,300 wells, most more than 500 m deep, and supplies 6,500,000 cubic metres of fresh water per day transported by reinforced concrete pipelines to the cities of Tripoli, Benghazi, Sirte and elsewhere.
The inauguration was carried out by Col. Gaddafi on 28 August, 1991. According to an Executive Intelligence Review article published in September 1991, the Libyan leader underlined the following in his speech: “After this achievement, American threats against Libya will double…The United States will make excuses, [but] the real reason is to stop this achievement, to keep the people of Libya oppressed.” Gaddafi presented the project to the cheering crowd as a gift to the Third World and called on farmers from neighbouring countries to come to Libya for agriculture.

Gaddafi knew this achievement would guarantee the US & company would show their true face to the globe.
Not the Hollywood face of cool men who always get the botox women.
No it would be the other face. The face of death & destruction. A face that the world has seen so often but for some reason never seems to recall the look of ?

My opinion 2014. Haven’t had any reason to change it

Gaddafi : Developing Africa

The Libyan autocrat enabled Africa to experience a veritable technological revolution by financing the first African communication satellite. Gaddafi invested $300 million in this landmark project that enabled the whole of the continent to establish telephone links, transmission of television and radio stations, introduction of tele­medicine (remote diagnosis), distance learning and education and many other projects of far reaching implications. Before the satellite’s launch in December 2007, African countries paid a fortune to Europe for using their satellites.
Gaddafi also provided 15% of the budget of the African Union at the Inter­African institutional level. This really explains the reluctance of African Union to condemn Gaddafi, in contrast to the Arab League, which abhors him.

Gaddafi also extended his generosity to South Africa, Liberia, Madagascar, the countries of the Sahel and central Africa where he financed administrative buildings, hotels, restaurants, NGOs, Islamic organisations, a network of petrol distribution, (via the Libyan National Oil Company), shops, entertainment events – like the Malian Festival of the Desert – and charities.
On the other hand, Gaddafi never shied away from supporting rebel movements active in African countries. He extended his support to the Tuaregs in Mali by offering protection and finance during the repression of their movement by Malian government in the 1990’s.
The claims of mercenaries fighting for Gaddafi is hardly surprising as back in 2005, he granted a residency permit to all the Nigerian Tuaregs, Malians and other sub-Saharan Africans and provided them free housing. In 2006, Gaddafi called the tribes of the Sahara, including the Tuaregs, to form a coalition to oppose terrorism and drug trafficking.

NATO’s reign of terror

Soon after the voting on the UNSC Resolution 1973 on 19th March, NATO jets started bombarding the military positions of the Libyan army and systematically decimated anti-aircraft radars, tanks, heavy artillery and armoured carriers. Libyan navy installations were also attacked by NATO despite the fact that they were charged to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

The Western leaders, initially calling on Gaddafi to step down in exchange for a safe passage, took a U-turn and tacitly gave approval to his assassination. NATO jets bombed one of the houses of Gaddafi family where he was present with his son, Saif Al-Arab. His son and three grandchildren died in the attack. NATO blatantly denied any war crime was committed by targeting a head of state present in a civilian compound.
NATO aircraft spared nothing they suspected of being used by pro-Gaddafi forces. Pipeline factories, communications towers, electricity pylons, water and sewerage pipelines, roads and other civilian infrastructure came under the fire of the Coalition forces on numerous occasions which is also a violation of international laws. US President Barack Obama signed an executive order that directed the killing of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family.

Oh, Obama the peace president…blah, blah, blah. Canada did this alongside the US, France, Israel and others

The western backed Gabon government has been overthrown- There was a recent election, the results showed the challenger Ondo Ossa had won. However Ali Bongo overthrew the results and claimed the win and the power! Gallier has extended family present in the area.

Gallier’s comment

gallier2says:

August 30, 2023 at 4:42 am•Edit

To something completely different.
There’s an ongoing putsch in Gabon. Ali Bongo has fled the country to Morocco. There were presidential elections last week and most polls showed the runner up (Albert Ondo Ossa) as victorious. Bongo nonetheless proclaimed victory which triggered the military to annul the election result, to shut down completely the gouvernment. The Internet and phone lines had been suspended last week (by Bongo). It has been re-established. Afaict (and afamwct (as far as my wife can tell) she just was awake whole night in contact with family) no violence occured yet. I have no idea what France plans to do, as Gabon was the last colony that seemed part of the “Françafrique” network.
People in Gabon are fed up by 60 years of Bongo family reign. I have no idea, who is behind the putschists though (color revolution? brics? no idea). If I manage to find something I will inform you.
PS: my mail is a scoop, European media are still stuck on the “Bongo won the election” and only slowly start to mention the military coup.

Gallier2 also left this!

gallier2says:

August 30, 2023 at 4:47 am•Edit

I found an article praising Ondo Ossa on the BRICS news portal.
http://infobrics.org/post/39016/

Albert Ondo Ossa is the most rational candidate for the leadership of Gabon. This was stated by the President of the Foundation for the Development of Modern Diplomacy Amram Petrosian in his comment on the course of the presidential election campaign in the republic.

Thank You for the scoop Gallier2!

Some relevant points

Gabon is another former French colony- Gabon has reserves of uranium, oil and gas.
The army of Gabon took power in the country and announced the dissolution of the current government.
The country’s borders are closed until further notice.

A smattering of reports

ITV

Military officers in Gabon said they were seizing power in order to overturn the results of the country’s presidential election.

The announcement came hours after the central African country’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba was declared winner of an election deemed fraudulent by the opposition.

Within minutes of the announcement on Wednesday, gunfire was heard in the centre of the capital, Libreville. ( I’d suggest celebratory gunfire from the looks of things)

The coup attempt was announced by a dozen uniformed soldiers on state TV later the same morning.

The group, claiming to represent “defence and security forces” said it would “dissolve all institutions of the republic” and aims to “defend peace by putting an end to the regime in place”.

The officers said election results would be voided and the country’s borders closed until further notice.

The president is now under house arrest, the group added in a later state TV broadcast.

European news

European Union defence ministers are to discuss the situation in Gabon, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Wednesday, adding that a coup, if confirmed, would heap more instability on the region.

“The whole area, starting with Central African Republic, then Mali, then Burkina Faso, now Niger, maybe Gabon, it’s in a very difficult situation and certainly the ministers … have to have a deep thought on what is going on there and how we can improve our policy in respect with these countries,” he said.

“This is a big issue for Europe,” he added.

The signs of a coup in Gabon come just weeks after members of the presidential guard in Niger seized power and established a junta.

The people of Gabon look positively ecstatic! They are celebrating. Out on the streets cheering.

https://twitter.com/kesandutg/status/1696825347130396936

I’ll link to some twitter accounts providing visuals

Elle Vit Belle

Link @Sen.Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed

Progozhin headlines are running the gamut. He’s being lionized, which is quite a change from the usual. We’ve got conspiracy theories galore from the main stream media who are the biggest promoters of conspiracy theories on the planet!

Let’s consider these points of interest while thinking about what ever really happened.

• BRICS meeting in South Africa
• Today, August 24, is Ukraine’s Independence Day. This plane crash sure gives Ukraine something to feel good about.
• Wagner’s involvement in Africa, including with Niger- Which parties, globally, were unenthusiastic about their presence? Russia? No. France? Yes. The US? Yes.
• Claims of the Kremlin taking over Wagner AFTER Prigozhin’s death- From former CIA director Leon Panetta- are rubbish. This “taking over” process was already under way and had been for months.
  I’m sure of that because that information is covered here- Which means Prigozhin did not have the same power he’d been enjoying prior to this arrangement with Russian MoD

Refresh your memories

Sergei Shoigu announced that “Russian volunteer personnel must sign contracts directly with the Russian MoD by July 1.” The same report indicates that the Akhmat group of Chechen special forces complied with the Defense Ministry’s decree and that the new contracts “will grant Akhmat forces the same legal status, rights, and benefits” as official defense personnel. If that is correct, and assuming the same status would be afforded to members of the Wagner Group, it suggests that upon signing the contracts, Wagner fighters would be integrated into Russia’s armed forces.

We’re nearly at the end of August now- and the contract signing had been going well as of my previous report, dated June 24/23.

The death is still unconfirmed. The cause of the crash also unconfirmed

It’s important to not jump to conclusions

The UK Government is closely watching the situation but schools minister Nick Gibb said it must avoid making assumptions about the crash.

He told Sky News: “We only heard about this… it only happened a few hours ago.

“We are monitoring the position. It’s important not to jump to conclusions“

President Joe Biden was less circumspect, saying: “I don’t know for a fact what happened but I’m not surprised.

“There’s not much that happens in Russia that Putin’s not behind.”

Joe Biden, what a maroon. Is Putin behind Navalny gropin’Joe? Sheesh!

No matter the cause of the plane crash, everyone will see this as an act of retaliation and retribution, and the Kremlin won’t particularly counteract this view. From Putin’s perspective, as well as many among the security and military officials, Prigozhin’s death should serve as a lesson to any potential successors.

I agree with the above statement- no matter the cause of the crash, everyone is seeing this as an act of retaliation. It’s a point of view that won’t be challenged. Why would it be? It serves the state well. The rest of her points are up for debate.

There is heavy speculation, but no evidence, that the crash may not have been an accident.

-It could have been an accident
-It could have been a malfunction of some sorts
-If it was intentional it could have been an internal matter. Internal to Wagner itself
-If it was state sponsored it could have been a NATO state. It could have been Ukraine.
-At this point in time, it seems Putin is least likely to have perped a plane crash. Because, frankly had he wanted Prigozhni dead, he had months already to do it. And didn’t need a plane crash to end his life

Yesterday, there were reports of another plane with Prigozhni’s name on the flight manifest. It landed successfully

Faked death, second plane?

Russia aviation authorities have said Yevgeny Prigozhin was on board an aircraft that crashed on Wednesday night killing all on board, but the Wagner leader’s death may not be as clear-cut as details emerge of a second jet also linked to the mercenary group boss.

However, neither the Kremlin nor the Russian defence ministry have confirmed if Prigozhin was among the dead and mystery surrounds a second private jet which was initially reported to be travelling with the plane which crashed.

Early reports of the crash claimed there may have been two jets, both linked to Prigozhin, making the same journey from Moscow to St Petersburg.

Soon after the plane crashed, flight tracking data seemed to revealed the second private jet looping back to Moscow.

Did you know Prigozhin had “ died” in the Congo in 2019, only to reappear alive three days later

Independent.co.UK

Speaking to Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Kyiv journalist John Sweeney said: “Priogozhin has got previous for this. In 2019 he was supposed to be on a plane in the Congo. It crashed and it turned out he wasn’t on the plane, so you have to worry a little about this. He’s kind of like a vampire. Are we really sure he’s dead?”

Well, I’m not. He’s a very wealthy individual and could easily fake his death and move on in life. And if he is, I’m definitely not sure how he came to be killed. Accidentally or intentionally? But as of now, Putin is one among many potential suspects.

Delegates from the Economic Community of West African States arrived in Niger Saturday to begin talks with the military leaders now in control of the landlocked country of more than 25 million people.

The ruling military junta’s leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani agreed to meet the delegation

Earlier in the week, ECOWAS confirmed it was finalizing plans to send its Standby Force to the country.

Saturday’s arrival of a political delegation is seen by many as a last ditch effort for a peaceful resolution to the situation in that country.

The present government has closed the airspace above Niger, obviously in anticipation of some foreign intervention via the skies above. Clearly, an attempt to thwart this intervention.

The US has had direct contact with the present day government and have asked they step aside

US says had 'direct contact' with coup leaders in Niger to urge them to 'step aside' https://t.co/JBWKicldld pic.twitter.com/RkHYZMBO0m

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) August 7, 2023

After Niger’s coup, the drums of war are growing louder

So is opposition to restoring the government by force

The Economist

ASSIROU MAHAMADOU, a vegetable seller perched on a stool in Niamey, the capital of Niger, does not look like a fighter. Yet at the mention of threats by Niger’s neighbours to use force to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum, the president who was ousted in a coup on July 26th, he swells with anger. “If they come here, we [civilians] are going to war alongside the army.” He is outraged that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional bloc, is considering sending troops to battle the junta, even as it has done little to fight the jihadists that he says are the bigger threat. “ECOWAS has weapons to attack Niger but not to kill the terrorists,” he says. “It’s a disgrace.”

Weapons to attack Niger, but, not to kill terrorists… That’s curious isn’t it?

What’s also curious are the reports that Al Qaeda has circled Wagner fighters trying to enter Niger.

I’ve been looking for more information to confirm these claims.. However, these types of claims are believable based on the fact that Niger has a “terrorist”problem. And Al Qaeda is every where the US needs it to be! Always. That said it appears some Wagner fighters/mercenaries did get into Niger or were already present.

Georgia Meloni has taken some serious swipes at Macron- Italy and Africa have an extensive history- For bad and for good. Also interesting. Her speeches have the benefit of playing to the domestic Italian audience at this time, which is being over run with refugees.. that’s a problem for the nation and her people. France doesn’t care because historically they’ve treated Italy as the poor cousins in Europe- Which is a shame because Italy has an extensive ancient history- It’s people are survivors. And the country is beautiful beyond words .

My ancestors are from Italy, what else could you expect me to say

Thousands of people in Niger’s capital, Niamey, have participated in a peaceful protest in support of the recent military coup in the country. The protesters condemned West African nations that have imposed sanctions on Niger and called for the departure of foreign troops, including those from the US and France, which have military bases in Niger to combat Islamist militants. The demonstration follows a previous protest that led to attacks on the French embassy. While some previous protests featured pro-Russia sentiments, this time organizers discouraged waving Russian flags, and participants mainly displayed Nigerien flags. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has imposed sanctions on Niger and threatened military intervention if the ousted president is not reinstated.

US supports threat to use force to restore order in Niger

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says his country strongly supports the position of regional body ECOWAS in its threat to use force if ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated by this Sunday.

Soldiers detained Bazoum on July 26th and took power. This drew regional and global condemnation, including from the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council.

Blinken was guarded in explaining how Washington intended to support ECOWAS in its effort to return Niger to constitutional order.

The US and France have troops on the ground- Not sure why Blinken would be guarded in explaining how Washington may intend to retrieve Niger’s favoured government

Military Engagement, Not an Option”, Atiku Breaks Silence on Niger Coup, Reveals Possible Solution Read more:

PDP flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, has dropped his two cents regarding the disturbing development in Niger Republic Atiku, in a statement issued on Thursday evening, August 3rd, warned against the use of force against the military juntas in Niger He noted that military hostilities may “exacerbate the status quo,” adding, “the crisis in the Republic of Niger requires diplomatic engagements and sustainable channels for dialogue”

Niger is bordered to the North East by Libya-Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest.

DW

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has signed a gas deal worth billions on a visit to Libya. The plan is for Italian and Libyan energy giants to jointly develop two offshore gas fields.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Tripoli on Saturday for talks with the internationally-recognized government in the Libyan capital.

She became the first Western leader to visit the government in Libya since it missed its late 2021 target to hold national elections amid political turmoil in the country.

Major offshore gas deal signed

During the visit, the two countries’ oil companies signed a gas deal worth around $8 billion (roughly €7.5 billion), calling it the largest single investment in Libya’s energy sector in more than two decades. 

Italy’s ENI and the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) plan to cooperate on the construction of two offshore gas fields off Libya’s northern coast. ENI said in a statement that output would begin in 2026 and reach a plateau of 750 million cubic feet per day. 

ENI CEO Claudio Descalzi and NOC chairman Farhat Begdara signed the deal at a ceremony also attended by Meloni and the head of Libya’s UN-brokered but contested national unity government, Abdel Hamid Dbeibah.

“This agreement will enable important investments in Libya’s energy sector, contributing to local development and job creation while strengthening ENI’s role as a leading operator in the country,” Descalzi said. 

Meloni called the deal “significant and historic,” saying “Libya is clearly for us a strategic economic partner.” 

Like several other European countries, Italy has been looking for alternative sources of gas and oil, having relied in the past on purchases from Russia until the sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Meloni was also in Algeria, penning similar gas deals, earlier in the week. 

Libyan oil minister questions the deal

But Saturday’s deal showed rifts in the rival Libyan administrations in the east and west, as had previous oil deals between Tripoli and Ankara. 

So this puts Italy in a very similar situation to Turkey.

The rival government in the east considers the Tripoli government illegitimate and by extension the commercial deals it strikes with foreign states as well. 

For most of the past decade, rival governments in Tripoli and in the east of the country have been vying for control since the NATO-backed uprising that ousted dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Security tight, government’s grip looser

Meloni landed at Mitiga airport, the only functioning airport in Tripoli at present, amid tight security. Her foreign and interior ministers, Antonio Tajani and Matteo Piantedosi, accompanied her. 

She met with the leader of the UN-brokered government Dbeiba and held talks with Mohamed Younis Menfi, who chairs Libya’s ceremonial presidential council. 

Echoing comments she had made in Algeria, Meloni said that while Italy wanted to increase its presence in the region, it was not seeking a “predatory” role but rather wanted to help African nations “grow and become richer.” 

Italy is acting in a similar manner to Russia in this regard.

High-ranking diplomatic visits to Africa have been in sharp focus recently, not least as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a pair of tours of the continent and as the US then sent a delegation of its own, with President Joe Biden planning to visit later.