US expands intel gathering in Africa: "We should not show to al-Qaeda that we are working with Americans"

The United States expanded intelligence-gathering operations in both sub-Saharan and North Africa by establishing a network of air bases for spying on terrorist groups such as al-Shabaab, Boko Harem, AQIM, and even AQAP in nearby Yemen, as well as tracking down Joseph Kony, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.

According to the WaPo, the bases in Uganda, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Djibuti, Kenya, and the Seychelles are used for "small, unarmed turboprop aircraft disguised as private planes" to avoid drawing attention and are "equipped with hidden sensors that can record full-motion video, track infrared heat patters, and vacuum up radio and cellphone signals."

 Djibril Bassole, the foreign minister of Burkina Faso, praises the intelligence gathering operations and security agreement between his country and the United States.

"We need to fight and protect our borders," he said.  "Once they infiltrate your country, it's very, very difficult to get them out.

Some discretion is necessary, he says.

"I cannot provide details but it has been very, very helpful.  This cooperation should be very, very discreet.  We should not show to al-Qaeda that we are working with the Americans."

Oops.  Pretty sure they know now.  

Special Ops forces, working with a sizable contingent of contractors, fly intel missions over the continent.  The Special Ops depend heavily on contractors for much of the work, in effect outsourcing intelligence gathering efforts. The nature of the agreements leaves little accountability or means of renumeration for contractors or their families if things go wrong.

The article is worth reading in full, but one thing I noted about both stories was the mention of plainclothes civilians and military officers in bars and restaurants in the region. The first story placed special emphasis on the presence of service members an contractors in Ouagadougou, the capital of Muslim-majority Burkina Faso. The second placed emphasis on the presence of contractors in Kampala, which was attacked in July 2010 by al-Shabaab.  Over 70 were killed and around 70 were injured when the Somali-based group attacked World Cup screenings.

I'm not sure what the mention of these foreigners in the capitals--especially in the BARS in these countries--added to the stories aside from placing these guys and mzungus (white people) who have nothing to do with the operations at risk of retaliation attacks.  In the case of Ouagadougou, the story even mentioned locals appreciate them for the business they bring.  In the case of Kenya--I mean, al-Shabaab already attacked them. 

ECOWAS to send troops to Mali, Guinea-Bissau: what can go wrong?

A bit outside the geographic purview of this blog but notable nonetheless.  

Leaders from West Africa announced they will send “at least 3,000” troops to Mali and Guinea-Bissau after both countries’ governments were overthrown in military coups.

West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced after a summit in the capital of Code d’Ivoire, Abidjan, the troops would also fight secessionists in Mali’s north.

Tuareg insurgents took control of northern Mali shortly after the coup and declared independence for the newly-renamed Azawad.   Nationalist National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) claimed to have liberated the region, but the group is facing competition from Islamists in the region.  Ansar al-Deen and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghrib (AQIM) are exerting power in the region’s main cities in Gao and Timbuktu.  There have been reports both Ansar and AQIM have begun to consolidate power, mostly through the provision of services as return of security instead of the imposition of shariah.  

The Washington Post reported on April 16 one way Ansar was working to gain the support of the local population and attract recruits was by setting up a hotline for emergencies.  The paper reported, 

When bus passengers called the emergency telephone number in Gao a week ago after the attackers attempted to rob their bus, the Islamists came, repelled the attack, and cut the throat of one of the bandits.

The Tuaregs had long been agitating for an independent state and took advantage of the security vacuum opened by the coup to seize control. 

The success of the insurgents in the north caused the military to do a quick turnaround.  Mali’s military recently handed power over to an interim government led by Dioncounda Traore after ECOWAS intervention.  They overthrew the government of Amandou Toumani Toure over accusations his government had not done enough to combat rebellions in the north.

Self-fulfilling prophecy, that one. 

Shortly after, Guinea-Bissau’s military overthrew the government during presidential elections in which the current prime minister, Carlos Gomes Junior, was expected to win.  The armed forces were apprehensive about alleged plans to cut the size of the army.

Guinea-Bisseau’s interim president, prime minister, and army chief-of-staff were arrested by the military.

Guinea-Bissau’s Military Command announced plans to set up a transitional government and plan elections for sometime in 2014, but their proposal was rejected by the international community. 

A spokesman for the Military Command said any international forces would be treated as occupiers. 

Got it all straight?