Andrew McGregor
Andrew McGregor is Director of Aberfoyle International Security, a Toronto-based agency specializing in security issues related to the Islamic world. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto’s Dept. of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations in 2000 and is a former Research Associate of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs. In October 2007 he took over as managing editor of the Jamestown Foundation’s Global Terrorism Analysis publications. He is the author of an archaeological history of Darfur published by Cambridge University in 2001 and publishes frequently on international security issues. His latest book is A Military History of Modern Egypt, published by Praeger Security International in 2006. Dr. McGregor provides commentary on military and security issues for newspapers (including the New York Times and Financial Times), as well as making frequent appearances on radio (BBC, CBC Radio, VOA, Radio Canada International) and television (CBC Newsworld, CTV Newsnet, and others).
Contact Andrew McGregor
Articles by Andrew McGregor
Al-Qaeda Attack on Russians in Bamako Latest Setback for Russia’s Africa Corps
Executive Summary: Over the past months, Russia’s “Africa Corps,” which is mostly made up of former Wagnerites, in Africa’s Sahel states have faced numerous blows from jihadist groups. These defeats
Ukraine’s African Campaign Against Russia Prompts International Backlash
Executive Summary: The July attack by Tuareg rebels in Mali that killed Malian government troops and Wagner Group mercenaries has been connected to Ukraine, causing substantial international backlash for Kyiv.
Russia Considers Supplying Anti-Ship Missiles to Ansarallah
Executive Summary: Since the United States authorized Kyiv to use Western-provided weapons on Russian territory, Moscow has considered striking back on a new front by providing modern anti-ship missiles to
Mercenaries, UN Peacekeepers, and Multilateral Forces May Not Be Enough to Protect the Congo from the M23 Movement
Executive Summary: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to struggle to remove M23 rebels from its eastern provinces despite military aid and the assistance of UN troops and
Russia Switches Sides in Sudan War
Executive Summary: The Kremlin has reconsidered its support for the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces, throwing more weight behind the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Transitional Sovereignty Council. The move serves
Horațiu Potra: Romanian Mercenary in Africa Competes with Wagner Remnants
Executive Summary: Once thought a vestige of the past, Eastern European mercenaries have returned to Africa under the leadership of Romanian Horațiu Potra. Potra runs a private military company (PMC)
Russia Works to Displace French Influence in Chad
Executive Summary: Mahamat Idriss Déby, Chad’s new president, has voiced interest in increasing cooperation with Moscow amid creeping Russian influence throughout the Sahel. Any move by the young president toward
Yunus-Bek Yevkurov: A Profile of Russia’s New Ingush African Corps Leader
Executive Summary GRU Colonel-General Yunus-Bek Bamatgireyevich Yevkurov has been tasked with taking over Russia’s operations in Africa from the Wagner Group. Proven and effective, he will be a formidable threat
Niger Cozies Up to Russia and Walks Away From the West
Executive Summary Russia is actively expanding ties with Niger’s military junta to consolidate control over resource-rich assets and to push out Western influence. Moscow has now signed multiple agreements to
Marwan Barghouti: Will Palestinian Prisoner Pursue an Agreement with Israel?
Executive Summary Marwan Barghouti is a Palestinian leader serving multiple life sentences in Israeli prison for his role in the second intifada. Hamas has included his name at the top
Russian Military Intelligence Takes Over Wagner Operations in Libya
Executive Summary: Moscow is consolidating the Wagner Group’s operations in Libya under the direct control of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU) and
Wagner’s Influence in Central African Republic Wanes as American PMC Enters the Scene
Executive Summary: President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, nicknamed “President Wagner,” of the Central African Republic (CAR) welcomed the Wagner Group in 2018 but is now “in the process of diversifying its relations.”
Israeli End Goals in Gaza: A Palestinian Expulsion?
Executive Summary Nearly all of Gaza's 2.2 million people have been displaced by the current conflict, with Israel potentially considering “voluntary” resettlement plans for the Gazan population. Various Israeli officials
Assessing the War in Sudan: Is an RSF Victory in Sight?
After eight months of brutal warfare, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) now appear to have the upper hand against the better-armed Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Led by Muhammad Hamdan Daglo
Regime Change in Gaza: Trajectories for a Post-Hamas Future
The deadly October 7 Hamas operation was designed to use shock and terror to force a change in the status and future of Gaza’s Palestinian population. In this regard, the
Russia in the Red Sea: Converging Wars Obstruct Russian Plans for Naval Port in Sudan (Part Three)
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the expanded war has pulled some of the Kremlin’s attention to the Middle East and North Africa (see EDM, October 16,
Russia in the Red Sea: Port Options in Eritrea (Part Two)
As Russian military and financial resources are being ground down in Avdiivka and Kupyansk, Moscow has struggled to maintain progress in some of its wider foreign policy objectives (Ukrinform, November
Russia in the Red Sea: The Search for Warm-Water Ports (Part One)
In recent days, waves of Russian drones have attacked the Ukrainian Port of Izmail, a major outlet for Ukraine’s grain exports (Al Jazeera, September 4). Such assaults on food infrastructure
The Third Front: Sudan’s Armed Rebel Movements Join the War Between the Generals
When a violent struggle between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Muhammad Hamdan Daglo “Hemeti” and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abd al-Fatah al-Burhan broke out
“There Will Be No Dar Masalit, Only Dar Arab”: Sudan’s Ethnic Divisions Destroy West Darfur
The conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Sudan started on April 15. However, parts of Darfur were already experiencing ethnic and political
Sudan’s Fratricidal Conflict: An Assessment of SAF and RSF Strategies and Tactics
The ongoing conflict in Sudan pits two very different wings of the Sudanese military in a struggle to control a population that would largely prefer democratic civilian rule over domination
Gold, Arms, and Islam: Understanding the Conflict in Sudan
Sudan ended over a quarter-century of Islamist-military rule with the 2019 overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir, whose rule was based on Islamism, Arab supremacy, and the ruthless application of military
Salah Gosh and the Survival of Sudan’s Old Regime
When former members of Sudan’s much-feared National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) mutinied on January 14, there were fears loyalists to the once powerful ex-NISS director Salah Gosh were preparing
Bringing Down the West: Kémi Séba and the Pan-Africanist Revolution
Bringing Down the West: Kémi Séba and the Pan-Africanist Revolution Andrew McGregor An unforeseen consequence of Western intervention against African terrorist groups has been the revitalization of pan-Africanism, an ideology
Why Mozambique Is Outsourcing Counter-Insurgency to Russia: Hidden Loans and Naval Bases
*To read the companion piece to this article, please click here. At the heart of Mozambique’s reinvigorated relationship with Moscow (see EDM, October 29) is a financial scandal that almost
Why Mozambique Is Outsourcing Counter-Insurgency to Russia: The Historical Relationship
A new government offensive in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province is the latest attempt to eliminate shadowy Islamist insurgents in a region whose untapped energy reserves could reverse the country’s
Falling off the Fence: Russian Mercenaries Join the Battle for Tripoli
Russia’s so-far ambiguous approach to Libya’s internal conflict, one of reassuring both sides of its continued support, has begun to shift with the deployment of Russian mercenaries backing “Field Marshal”
Power and Rebellion in Chad: A Profile of Rebel Leader Mahamat Nouri Allatchi
At 72 years of age, Chad’s General Mahamat Nouri Allatchi has survived numerous battles, headed a series of rebel movements, and evaded repercussions for being a close associate of one
Snatching the Sudanese Revolution: A Profile of General Muhammad Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti”
While it was no surprise that the Sudanese military took action to protect themselves by deposing President Omar al-Bashir in the midst of nationwide protests, what is surprising is who
Nigeria Seeks Russian Military Aid in Its War on Boko Haram
Four years ago, Nigerian military sources said the country’s decision to shift to Russian military training and arms supplies was only an “interim measure” after its traditional partners, from the
Keeping the Civil War Alive: A Profile of South Sudan’s Rebel General, Thomas Cirilo Swaka
A little-known five-year civil war in South Sudan has left up to 400,000 dead and millions more displaced. After the young nation gained its hard-won independence in 2011, only two
‘Old Wine in Old Bottles?’ A Security Q and A on Post-Coup Sudan
Veteran opposition politician Yasir Arman called the April 11 military coup in Sudan nothing more than “old wine in old bottles.” Arman suggested it had preserved “the political and economic
Yahya Abu al-Hammam: France Eliminates Leading Saharan Jihadist
French commandos tore through the desert north of Timbuktu on February 21, in hot pursuit of a leading jihadist who had been detected as part of a three-car convoy by
A Revolution Not Like the Others: Directions in Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in a Post-Bashir Sudan
Ten weeks into massive street protests in Sudan, anger at the three-decade-old regime of President Omar al-Bashir has begun to spread well beyond Khartoum. Unsure of support from the army
Russian Mercenaries and the Survival of the Sudanese Regime
Less noticed but no less important than the reported arrival of Russian mercenaries in Venezuela (see EDM, January 28, 31) has been the influx of Russia Wagner Group “private military
Advocate of Armed Rebellion: A Profile of Chadian Rebel Leader Dr. Abakar Tollimi
Twenty-eight years after taking power by force, Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno faces extremely difficult economic and security challenges. Chadians form one of the most impoverished populations in the world,
Mauritania—Will Islamist Crackdown Make It a Terrorist Target?
When Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Abd al-Aziz identified political Islamists as extremists and national enemies last August, his bluntness surprised some observers: “Proponents of political Islam are all extremists… Islamists,
The 36-Year Rebellion: Salif Sadio and the Struggle for Senegal’s Casamance Region
Low-intensity conflicts can be among the most resistant to resolution. A case in point is the 36-year separatist struggle in Casamance, the southern region of Senegal. While the conflict has
Violence and Viruses: How a Poorly Armed Insurgency in the Congo Poses a Global Threat
On October 21, angry locals filled the streets of the Congo’s Nord Kivu province town of Beni. The crowd torched the post office, destroyed parts of the town hall and
The Wandering Islamist: A Profile of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Wagdi Ghoneim
One of the most controversial preachers in contemporary Islam is Dr. Wagdi Abd al-Hamid Muhammad Ghoneim, a leading member of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood (MB). Now an occasionally troublesome resident of
Defense or Domination? Building Algerian Power With Russian Arms
Algeria is undertaking a major arms acquisition program designed to enhance its regional standing and make it difficult for terrorists or insurgent forces to operate on Algerian territory. To this
Andrew McGregor Cited by Business Insider
On July 31, Business Insider cited Andrew McGregor in an article covering the recent death of Russian journalists in the Central African Republic who were apparently investigating Russian private military
Libya’s Video Executioner: A Brief Profile of LNA Special Forces Commander Mahmud al-Warfali
Islamist militants have long used the power of videotaped atrocities to terrorize their opponents. One man believes he can do the same in the interests of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s
‘We Don’t Need Derna Anymore’: What the Battle for Derna Means for Libya’s Future
Once an important Mediterranean port in the ancient world of the Greeks and Romans, the city of Derna is currently being leveled by artillery and airstrikes supporting a ground offensive
Terror in the Sulu Archipelago: A Profile of Filipino Abu Sayyaf Leader Yassir Igasan
The Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) of the southern Philippines has always found itself perched on a fine line between Islamic jihad and organized crime. [1] Active since the early 1990s,
How Russia Is Displacing the French in the Struggle for Influence in the Central African Republic
Sudden Russian interest in the resource-rich Central African Republic (CAR—the former French colony of Oubangui-Chari) has raised questions regarding Moscow’s intentions in the violence-plagued nation (see EDM, April 30). As
Salafists, Mercenaries and Body Snatchers: The War for Libya’s South
Renewed fighting in southern Libya around the Kufra and Sabha oases demonstrates the difficulty of reaching anything more substantial than temporary and fragile political agreements in the region. The parties
Religious Extremist or Force for Moderation? A Profile of Imprisoned Saudi Shaykh Salman bin Fahd al-Ouda
One of Saudi Arabia’s leading Salafist religious scholars, Shaykh Salman bin Fahd al-Ouda, is currently hospitalized under guard after spending nearly five months in isolation without charges in a Saudi
How Does Russia Fit into Egypt’s Strategic Plan?
As Russian-Egyptian military and economic cooperation increases, many comparisons have been made with Egypt’s early post-independence era (1956–1971), when Cairo grew close to Moscow. Egypt’s current strategic position, however, bears
Egypt Looks for Security Answers as Its War on Terrorism Moves to the Desert Oases
The spread of the Islamist insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula to the heavily populated Nile Delta and Nile Valley regions of Egypt has been facilitated by the importation of arms
The Brotherhood Fox: A Profile of Fugitive Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Leader Mahmud Ezzat
How does a leader of an outlawed religious-political movement apply pressure on an inflexible regime at a moment of organizational weakness and internal division? This is the dilemma facing Dr.
The Unlikely Rebel: A Profile of Darfur’s Zaghawa Rebel Leader Minni Minawi
The career of Sulayman Arcua Minawi (better known as “Minni Minawi”) is the story of how a primary school teacher in a remote corner of northern Africa parlayed an ability
Will Khartoum’s Appeal to Putin for Arms and Protection Bring Russian Naval Bases to the Red Sea?
Though Sudan’s national economy is near collapse, the November 23 visit of Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir to Russia’s top leadership in Sochi was dominated by expensive arms purchases and Sudan’s
How Kenya’s Failure to Contain an Islamist Insurgency is Threatening Regional Prosperity
Life in parts of Kenya’s traditionally Muslim coastal region has become a nightmare of beheadings and midnight raids by masked assailants, compounded by the ineptitude of local security forces. In
“Biafra or Death”: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Struggle for Biafran Independence in Nigeria
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the founder and leader of a Biafran separatist movement known as the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has been missing since a raid by Nigerian security forces
Rebel or Mercenary? A Profile of Chad’s General Mahamat Mahdi Ali
In April 2017, the foreign minister of Libya’s Tripoli-based Presidency Council estimated the number of Chadian mercenaries operating in Libya to be 18,000, with another 6,000 hailing from Sudan (Libya
Qatar’s Role in the Libyan Conflict: Who’s on the Lists of Terrorists and Why
The Middle East diplomatic crisis that has set a coalition of Arab states against Qatar has inevitably spilled over into Libya. A number of those states party to the dispute
The Carousel of Rebellion and Reintegration: A Profile of Northern Mali’s Colonel Hassan ag Fagaga
From the moment of its independence in 1960, Mali was almost doomed to failure as a post-colonial state created from the territories of French West Africa. With its odd, bow-tie
Libya’s Military Wild Card: The Benghazi Defense Brigades and the Massacre at Brak al-Shatti
In shocking events on May 18, fighters in southern Libya carried out a massacre, slaughtering more than 140 soldiers and civilians, most of whom had already surrendered. The attack was
Islamist Insurgency in Burkina Faso: A Profile of Malam Ibrahim Dicko
Though the West African nation of Burkina Faso (and its earlier incarnation as Upper Volta) has had a sometimes turbulent political history since gaining its independence from France in 1960,
An American-Educated Warlord in Equatoria: A Profile of South Sudan’s General Martin Terensio Kenyi
According to a confidential UN report, six million people, half the population of South Sudan, are in need of humanitarian assistance less than six years after the nation gained its
Anarchy in Azawad: A Guide to Non-State Armed Groups in Northern Mali
Achieving peace in northern Mali (known locally as Azawad) is complicated by the proliferation of armed groups in the region, each varying in purpose, ideology and ethnic composition. Personal and
Radical Loyalty and the Libyan Crisis: A Profile of Salafist Shaykh Rabi’ bin Hadi al-Madkhali
Advocating loyalty to the regime may seem a rather uncontroversial and unprovocative stance in most instances. However, one influential Saudi shaykh, Rabi’ bin Hadi al-Madkhali, has taken this position to
Why Are Egypt’s Counter-Terrorism Efforts Failing in the Sinai Peninsula?
In October 2011, Field Marshal Muhammad Hussein Tantawi declared, “the military situation in Sinai is 100 percent secure” (Daily News Egypt, October 6, 2011). Four years later, army spokesman Brigadier
The Fox of Kidal: A Portrait of Mali’s Tuareg General, al-Hajj ag Gamou
In Mali he is known as “Le Renard de Kidal,” the fox of Mali’s north-eastern Kidal region, the desert home of some of Mali’s most committed rebels. The “Fox” however
‘A Doctorate in Fighting’: A Profile of Shilluk Militia Leader General Johnson Ulony Thubo
South Sudan achieved independence in July 2011, but the era of peace most citizens had hoped the event would initiate remains elusive, thanks in large part to the ravages imposed
Nigeria Expands Its ‘War on Terrorism’ to the Niger Delta
Though Nigeria’s southern Delta region has abundant oil reserves that should provide amply for the future of both the region and the nation, the Delta has become consumed by environmental
Choosing a Figurehead Over a Fanatic: A Profile of Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the New Leader of the Islamic State in West Africa
Andrew McGregor Though it might be difficult to conceive, there are apparently limits to the degree of barbarity the Islamic State (IS) organization is willing to tolerate in its regional
‘The Spielberg of French Islamism’: A Profile of Omar Diaby (a.k.a. Omar Omsen)
Andrew McGregor The Islamic State-inspired Bastille Day atrocity in Nice that killed 84 people and injured over 300 more has brought new awareness of a strain of radical Islam that
The Pursuit of a “New Sudan” in Blue Nile State: A Profile of the SPLA-N’s Yasir Arman
Andrew McGregor Despite the 2011 separation of South Sudan, Sudan’s civil war continues in Darfur and what has become known as Sudan’s “new South,” Blue Nile State and South Kordofan.
Political Stalemate Heightens Appeal of Religious Extremism for Western Sahara Youth
The death from illness on May 31 of the Polisario Front’s long-time leader Mohamed Abdelaziz has brought the exiled Sahrawi independence movement of the Western Sahara to an ideological crossroads.
Back to the Creeks: A Profile of Niger Delta Militant Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a. Tompolo)
Andrew McGregor Just as the global oil industry begins to show slight signs of recovery, Nigeria, one of its biggest producers (as well as one of its most oil-dependent nations)
Saudi Arabia’s Intervention in Yemen Suggests a Troubled Future for the Kingdom’s Anti-Terror Coalition
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud appears intent on shaking off the perceived lethargy of the Saudi royals in international efforts to combat terrorism, forming a 35-nation anti-terrorism coalition.
Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood and the Struggle for Post-Revolutionary Libya: A Profile of Shaykh Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi
Andrew McGregor The rise to power of Mu’ammar Qaddafi (1969-2011) in Libya led to major changes in the observation of Islam in a deeply conservative Sunni Muslim North African nation.
Beyond the Brotherhood: Egypt’s Yasir Hussein Borhami and the Salafist Revolution
Andrew McGregor With debate growing over the role of Saudi-inspired Salafism in the development of Islamist extremism, it is worth examining the career and continuing influence of Yasir Hussein al-Borhami,
Unwanted Ally: Hezbollah’s War Against the Islamic State
“There is no future for ISIS. Not in war and not in peace.” These words were spoken not by Barack Obama or Vladimir Putin, but rather by Hezbollah leader Sayyid
Ahmad Qaddaf al-Dam and the Qaddafist Shadow Over Libya
Given that many might think Qaddafism as a political ideology died along with Mu’ammar Qaddafi in his hometown of Sirte at the hands of Libyan revolutionaries in October 2011, the
Conflict at a Crossroads: Can Nigeria Sustain Its Military Campaign Against Boko Haram?
Expectations that the election of new Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari would lead to effective military measures against northeast Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants have been dashed in recent weeks as the
After Garissa: Kenya Revises Its Security Strategy to Counter al-Shabaab’s Shifting Tactics
Al-Shabaab’s April 2 attack on Kenya’s Garissa University College that killed 147 non-Muslim students was the latest installment in al-Shabaab’s campaign to force Nairobi to order a withdrawal of the
GATIA: A Profile of Northern Mali’s Pro-Government Tuareg and Arab Militia
A little more than a year after a French and African Union military intervention drove an Islamist coalition from their bases in northern Mali in early 2013, Prime Minister Moussa
Shaykh Sadiq al-Ghariani: A Profile of Libya’s Grand Mufti
In the midst of the political turmoil that has divided Libya since the Qaddafi era there is a religious scholar and academic with a taste for Islamist politics. Grand Mufti
Egypt, the UAE and Arab Military Intervention in Libya
A pair of recent airstrikes against Islamist-held targets in the Libyan capital of Tripoli have raised questions about Arab military intervention in Libya after reports emerged claiming the strikes were
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Preparing for the Next Stage: Islamic Jihad’s Gaza War Andrew McGregor Days after the September 24 ceasefire that ended Israel’s Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, thousands of members of Islamic
Libya’s Ansar al-Shari’a Declares the Islamic Emirate of Benghazi
Only weeks after Sunni jihadists in Iraq declared the establishment of an Islamic caliphate covering parts of Syria and Iraq, Libya’s Ansar al-Shari’a movement has declared an Islamic emirate in
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THE HEZBOLLAH WILD CARD IN THE CONFLICT IN GAZA Andrew McGregor The ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza have benefitted from the knowledge that Israel’s northern border with Lebanon is
Prophet Under Arms: A Profile of the Niger Delta’s ‘Ex-General’ Reuben Wilson
Reuben Wilson, a former commander in the loosely organized and allegedly disbanded Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), is threatening to block oil production in the Niger
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HOUTHIS BATTLE ARMY AND TRIBAL MILITIAS FOR CONTROL OF YEMEN’S AMRAN GOVERNORATE Andrew McGregor At the conclusion of a three-day battle, experienced Houthist fighters stormed the ancient Yemeni walled city
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EGYPT’S DOMESTIC SECURITY THREAT: AJNAD MISR AND THE “RETRIBUTION FOR LIFE” CAMPAIGN Andrew McGregor A Cairo-based extremist group using the name Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt) has intensified its bombing
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WILL ISIS SPUR NEW STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA? Andrew McGregor In some ways, the recent triumphs of the radical Sunni Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) inside Iraq
Andrew McGregor Interviewed by Rediff
The managing editor of Jamestown's Terrorism Program, Andrew McGregor, was interviewed by Rediff.com on potential U.S. intervention in Iraq and how this would affect the ISIS militants.
A Divided Military Fuels Mali’s Political Crisis
Both short- and long-term prospects for renewed stability in Mali’s restive northern region took a heavy blow with the May collapse of the Forces armées du Mali (FAMA) in the
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IRAQI COUNTER-INSURGENCY TACTICS UNDER FIRE Andrew McGregor Ineffective military tactics may have caused more damage to relations between the Iraqi National Army (INA) and the disaffected Sunni population of northwestern
Keeping It in the Family: A Profile of Jibril Ibrahim, Leader of Darfur’s Justice and Equality Movement
Recent reports of military operations carried out in South Sudan’s northern borderlands by Darfur’s ?arakat al-Adl wa’l-Musawah (Justice and Equality Movement – JEM) have reinforced the movement’s reputation for mobility
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ATTACK ON CHINESE COMPANY IN CAMEROON DRAGS YAOUNDÉ INTO CAMPAIGN AGAINST BOKO HARAM Andrew McGregor An assault on a Chinese road-building camp in northern Cameroon is the latest in a
Alleged Connection between Boko Haram and Nigeria’s Fulani Herdsmen Could Spark a Nigerian Civil War
In recent weeks, Nigerian security forces have claimed that some groups of semi-nomadic Fulani herdsmen engaged in bitter and bloody conflicts with farmers in several Nigerian states are actually composed
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ALGERIA FIGHTING A TWO-FRONT WAR WITH ISLAMIST MILITANTS Andrew McGregor The continuing break-up of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) into northern and southern factions under rival commanders Abd al-Malik
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CRISIS IN SOUTH SUDAN PART ONE: SHAKE-UP IN MILITARY LEADERSHIP REFLECTS TRIBAL CRISIS Andrew McGregor As the security situation in the Sudan continues to deteriorate, Government of South Sudan (GoSS)
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LIBYA PURCHASES BLOODLESS RETURN OF ITS EASTERN OIL FACILITIES In a move that may help restore revenues to a desperate national government in Tripoli, Libya’s ruling General National Council (GNC)
In a Shifting Political Landscape, Hezbollah Repositions Itself as the Anti-Terrorist Defender of Lebanon
The growing perception in the Arab Middle East that Syria’s military has recently gained the upper hand in Syria’s civil war over an armed opposition that includes a number of
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NEW REBEL MOVEMENT DECLARED IN NORTHERN MALI Andrew McGregor On March 18, a statement issued from the “military base of Hassi Labiad” in the name of the political and military
Where Trafficking and Terrorism Intersect: A Profile of Mauritanian Militant Hamada Ould Muhammad Kheirou
The dramatic occupation of northern Mali by Islamist extremists in 2012 brought a number of otherwise poorly known jihadists to international attention, including 44-year-old Mauritanian Hamada Ould Muhammad Kheirou (a.k.a.
Congolese Forces Take the Offensive Against Uganda’s ADF-NALU Militants
Fresh from a victory over the rebel troops of the Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) in the unsettled but resource-rich Nord-Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),
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IRAQI PRESIDENT ACCUSES QATAR AND SAUDI ARABIA OF WAGING A TERRORIST WAR AGAINST THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT Andrew McGregor As Iraq descends further into a pattern of intensive sectarian violence and
Andrew McGregor cited by The Epoch Times
Andrew McGregor was cited by The Epoch Times in an article titled "Weak Somali Government Struggles to Oust al-Shabab."
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EGYPTIAN MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN THE SINAI FOLLOWS TOURIST MASSACRE Andrew McGregor Egyptian security forces have responded to the latest terrorist blow to Egypt’s vital tourism industry with a series of
Are Corruption and Tribalism Dooming Somalia’s War on al-Shabaab Extremists?
After decades of conflict that have nearly destroyed the nation, Somalia now stands poised to make a final drive with international assistance to shatter the strength of radical al-Qaeda-associated Islamists
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SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE ESTABLISHES HOUTHI SHIITE MOVEMENT AS A POLITICAL FORCE IN THE NEW YEMEN Andrew McGregor Since last October, the Zaydi Shiite Houthis of northern Yemen’s Sa’ada governorate have been
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BERBER-ARAB CLASHES IN ALGERIA’S M’ZAB VALLEY Andrew McGregor The ongoing Berber cultural revival in North Africa has gone hand-in-hand with a new political assertiveness. In nations such as Libya, Algeria
South Sudan on the Brink: A Profile of Nuer Opposition Leader Riek Machar Teny
As South Sudan teeters on the brink of another civil war less than two years after gaining independence, most of the focus has been on the young nation’s former vice-president,
Tripoli Battles Shadowy Qaddafists While Tribal Rivals Fight Over Southern Libya
Despite living in the midst of some of the world’s most open and sparsely populated spaces, Libya’s southern tribes are engaged in a new round of bitter urban warfare, as
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SOUTH SUDAN’S TRIBAL “WHITE ARMY” – PART TWO: ARMS AND THE OVERTHROW OF TRADITIONAL ORDER Andrew McGregor An unprecedented cattle raid by members of South Sudan’s Murle tribe on the
Andrew McGregor cited by Afrique en Ligne
Jamestown's Senior Editor Andrew McGregor was cited by Afrique en Ligne for his assessment of al-Shabaab at the seventh Annual Terrorism Conference.
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SOUTH SUDAN’S TRIBAL “WHITE ARMY” – PART ONE: CATTLE RAIDS AND TRIBAL RIVALRIES Andrew McGregor One of the most important developments in the ongoing political and tribal violence in South
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SYRIA’S ARMY OF THE MUHAJIRIN PLEDGES ALLEGIANCE TO THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA Andrew McGregor On December 2, the Islamist Army of Muhajirin and Ansar in Bilad al-Sham
Oil Exploration and Political Stalemate Threaten to Trigger Renewed Conflict in the Western Sahara
The decades-long unresolved conflict over the Western Sahara threatens to heat up again as Algeria and Morocco dispute the future of the region and young members of the Sahrawi Polisario
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ANSAR BAYT AL-MAQDIS INTENSIFIES ASSASSINATION CAMPAIGN IN THE SINAI Andrew McGregor Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) is the Egyptian branch of a Gazan Islamist organization that first appeared in the Sinai
Bringing Jihad to Kenya: A Profile of al-Shabaab’s Ikrima al-Muhajir
When a U.S. Navy SEAL team raided a compound in the Somali port town of Barawe on October 5, there was initial confusion over the target of the raid, with
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MERGER OF NORTHERN MALI REBEL MOVEMENTS CREATES POLITICAL DISTANCE FROM ISLAMIST MILITANTS Andrew McGregor Proclaiming that the move was the only means of securing peace in northern Mali, the three
Autonomy Campaign in Cyrenaica Brings Libya’s Oil Industry to a Halt
Even as Libya descended into post-revolution political chaos, its vital oil industry made a rapid and surprising recovery, aided partly by the reluctance of both sides in the revolutionary struggle
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LOW EXPECTATIONS SURROUND LEBANESE MILITARY DEPLOYMENT IN TRIPOLI Andrew McGregor The latest intervention of the Lebanese Army into the coastal city of Tripoli to force an end to armed clashes
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AL-QAEDA STRIKES U.S. DRONE BASE IN YEMEN’S HADRAMAWT GOVERNORATE Andrew McGregor Yemen’s al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has claimed that its September 30 attack on a military base in
Jamestown’s Andrew McGregor quoted by The Globe and Mail
Jamestown Senior Editor Andrew McGregor was quoted by The Globe and Mail in an article titled "In Somalia, al-Shabab gathers strength in the shadows."
Andrew McGregor quoted by The Globe and Mail
Jamestown Senior Editor Andrew McGregor was quoted by The Globe and Mail in an article titled "Why the Canadian pipeline to al-Shabab has dried up."
An Islamist Fugitive in Post-Mursi Egypt: A Profile of al-Gama’a al-Islamiya’s Aboud al-Zomor
Like many of the former and current Egyptian leaders of jihadi organizations, Aboud al-Zomor is a well-educated professional and, in this case, the product of a wealthy family in Egypt’s
Andrew McGregor and Bruce Hoffman quoted by NPR
Jamestown analyst Andrew McGregor and Jamestown Board Member Bruce Hoffman were interviewed by NPR in a segment titled "Al-Shabab Shifts Focus From Territory to Terrorism."
Hot Issue: Westgate Mall Attack Demonstrates al-Shabaab’s Desperation, Not Strength
Expelled from their main sources of financing, consumed by internal disputes and under constant pressure from African Union troops in the field, Somalia’s al-Shabaab movement and its leader Abdi Godane
Terrorism Monitor Senior Editor Andrew McGregor cited by Modern Tokyo Times
Terrorism Monitor Senior Editor Andrew McGregor's article was cited by Modern Tokyo Times in a piece about terrorist attacks that occurred in Yemen on September 20, 2013.
Security Forces Sidelined as Salafists Battle Houthi Shiites in Yemen
With Yemen in the midst of a political reconstruction, there are signs that the Zaidi Shiite insurgent group known as the Houthis is taking advantage of the ongoing turmoil to
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OPERATION HURRICANE EXODUS: MEND THREATENS CHEVRON PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA Andrew McGregor Nigerian militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta have recently threatened American oil operations in that region as part of
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JIHADIS CHALLENGE THE ROLE OF THE ARAB ARMIES Andrew McGregor With one Arab army locked in battle against rebels (including Sunni Islamists) in Syria and another apparently set on cleansing
Bahrain’s Monarchy Determined to Prevent Egyptian-Style Revolt in Mid-August
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry has warned the nation’s largely Shiite political opposition against following through with plans for massive Egyptian-style pro-democracy street demonstrations planned for August 14. The opposition is calling
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MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD DISSENTER KAMAL AL-HELBAWY SAYS CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE MURSI THREATENS THE MOVEMENT’S FUTURE Andrew McGregor Since his resignation from Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood in March 2011, Kamal al-Helbawy has been
The Power Behind the Throne in Mursi’s Egypt: A Portrait of Muhammad Khayrat al-Shater
Over the last three years, Muslim Brotherhood deputy guide Muhammad Khayrat al-Shater has gone from being a political prisoner in Egypt’s prisons to a controversial role as the alleged “power
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UGANDAN REBEL MOVEMENT REEMERGES ALONG THE OIL-BEARING UGANDAN/CONGOLESE BORDER Andrew McGregor The once moribund Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan rebel movement now operating out of remote bases in the
Andrew McGregor quoted by Business News Europe
Andrew McGregor was quoted by Business News Europe in an article titled Terrorist threat at Sochi 2014 throws spotlight on Georgia-Russia ties.
Sinai Insurgency Exploits Political Crisis in Egypt
The growing confidence of Islamist militants operating in the volatile Sinai region of Egypt was displayed on July 10, when gunmen made an audacious attempt to assassinate General Ahmad Wasfy,
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HEZBOLLAH DEVISES STRATEGY TO DEAL WITH SYRIAN FALLOUT Andrew McGregor Despite condemnation for their military role in Syria from Sunni elements in Lebanon and abroad, the leader of the Shiite
Senior Editor Andrew McGregor cited by La Gaceta
Senior Editor Andrew McGregor was cited by La Gaceta in an article about the protests in Egypt.
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POLITICAL AND SECTARIAN POLARIZATION MAY SPARK A NEW PHASE OF THE EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION Andrew McGregor One year into the presidency of Muslim Brother Muhammad al-Mursi, Egypt finds itself consumed by
The Mobile Threat: Multiple Battlefields Ensure Instability in the Sahel/Sahara Region
There are signs that the scattered remnants of the Islamist coalition that occupied northern Mali for nine months are beginning to use their financial resources and pre-planned alternative bases to
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MUSLIM BROTHERS’ SPIRITUAL LEADER YUSUF AL-QARADAWI CONDEMNS HEZBOLLAH Andrew McGregor There are few more prominent preachers in the Islamic world than Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian Islamic scholar now based
Tribal Champion or Proxy Warrior? A Profile of South Sudan’s David Yau Yau
Introduction In the remote regions of South Sudan’s Jonglei state, a failed politician, former theology student and military neophyte has managed to turn his personal dissatisfaction with the administration of
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ARMED CLASHES NARROWLY AVERTED IN THE SINAI AFTER ENIGMATIC ABDUCTION OF EGYPTIAN SECURITY PERSONNEL Andrew McGregor A potentially explosive situation in Egypt’s volatile Sinai Peninsula appears to have been averted
Hot Issue: Niger: New Battleground for North Africa’s Islamist Militants?
When a pair of suicide bombings occurred almost simultaneously at important economic and military targets in Niger last week, it raised the specter of broadening Salafi-Jihadist activities paralyzing the political
Ombatse: Nigerian Religious Cult Joins War on the State in Central Nigeria
Nigeria has experienced years of sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims and endured massacres and bombings by religiously-inspired groups like Boko Haram. Now, however, with the slaughter of as many
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ARABS AND TUAREG CLASH IN STRUGGLE FOR DESTINY OF NORTHERN MALI Andrew McGregor New fighting between northern Mali’s Arab community and the Tuareg rebels working with French intervention forces in
Russian Interior Ministry Revives Its Armored Train in the North Caucasus
In an effort to control “banditry” and rebel activity in the North Caucasus region, Russia’s Ministry of Interior is returning its sole armored train to service on the often dangerous
Russian Interior Ministry Revives Its Armored Train in the North Caucasus
In an effort to control “banditry” and rebel activity in the North Caucasus region, Russia’s Ministry of Interior is returning its sole armored train to service on the often dangerous
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ISLAMIST VIOLENCE IN TRIPOLI DEFIES EFFORTS TO RESTORE SECURITY IN LIBYA Andrew McGregor An estimated 80 percent of the two-story French Embassy in the suburban al-Andlus neighborhood of Tripoli was
“I Don’t Know the Meaning of Militant”: A Profile of the Niger Delta’s Al-Haji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari: Part Two
As oil theft in southern Nigeria’s Niger Delta region reaches up to an unprecedented 250,000 barrels per day, there are signs that al-Haji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the man who helped found
Libya’s Sabha Oasis: Former Qaddafist Stronghold Becoming Regional Center of Insecurity
During the rule of the late Mu’ammar Qaddafi, Libya’s Sabha Oasis was an important regional security center, dominating Libya’s remote Fezzan region and the ancient trans-Saharan trade routes that connect
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CHAD WITHDRAWS FROM NORTHERN MALI AS PLANNING FOR UN FORCE BEGINS Andrew McGregor Chad has begun the withdrawal of its expeditionary force of roughly 2,250 troops from northern Mali as
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SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY DISASTER IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: PART ONE – THE REBEL OFFENSIVE Andrew McGregor While international attention focused on efforts to deal with the fallout from Mali’s
A Profile of the Niger Delta’s Al-Haji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari: Part One
As oil theft in southern Nigeria’s Niger Delta region reaches up to an unprecedented 250,000 barrels per day, there are signs that al-Haji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the man who helped found
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SHOCK WAVES CONTINUE FROM MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE BLAST AT U.S. EMBASSY IN ANKARA Andrew McGregor In terms of scale alone, the February 1 suicide bombing that killed a Turkish security guard
Islamist Militias Take to the Streets as Egyptians Look for Solutions to Internal Security Crisis
Though it lacks the compelling and convenient images produced in Cairo’s Tahrir Square during Egypt’s dramatic January, 2011 revolution, Egypt has been plunged into what has been variously described as
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DEAD OR ALIVE? THE FATE OF MOKHTAR BELMOKHTAR Andrew McGregor Despite claims that “terrorist kingpins” have been eliminated in the secret war being fought in the Adrar des Ifoghas Mountains
Red Berets, Green Berets: Can Mali’s Divided Military Restore Order and Stability?
With Paris insisting that the 4,000 French troops involved in the counter-terrorist operations in northern Mali will leave Mali sometime in March, it is worth taking a look at the
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ASSASSINATION SPARKS POLITICAL CRISIS IN TUNISIA Andrew McGregor Tunisia’s political crisis deepened this week with the emergence of a split in the ruling Islamist Ennahda Party and the subsequent resignation
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SALAFISTS AND SECULARISTS CHALLENGE THE AUTHORITY OF TUNISIA’S ISLAMIST RULERS Growing tensions in Tunisia between that nation’s Islamist government, secular political forces and radical Salafists exploded on February 6 following
A Profile of Alghabass ag Intallah: Reasserting Traditional Tuareg Leadership at the Expense of Ansar al-Din
Alghabass ag Intallah, a young Tuareg politician and tribal leader, has placed himself in a position where he can play a crucial role in determining the future of the ongoing
Tribes and Terrorists: The Emerging Security Threat from Libya’s Lawless South
One of the reported demands of the terrorist group that seized the In Aménas gas field last week was safe passage to the Libyan border, some 30 miles away and
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EGYPT’S MUSLIM BROTHERS WATCH AS DIVISONS REND THEIR SALAFIST CHALLENGERS Andrew McGregor As the February 25 parliamentary elections grow near, the political wings of Egypt’s Salafist movement continue to fragment,
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was quoted by The Star
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was quoted in an article by The Star entitled “Gadhafi’s vanished arsenal stoking Sahara unrest, experts say.”
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor quoted by The Gulf Today
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor’s analysis was quoted in an article by The Gulf Today entitled, “Hichem Karoui: Mali: A Common Concern.”
Hot Issue: A Response to the Crusaders?: Defining the True Purpose and Origin of the Attack on In Aménas
As the Algerian government continues to control a haphazard and inconsistent flow of information from In Aménas, the site of this week’s dramatic hostage-taking by Islamist militants, there continues to
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor interviewed by CBC National News.
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was interviewed by CBC National News on the situation in Mali/Algeria.
Commentary: Did France Move Too Soon in Mali?
When an Islamist offensive took the Malian town of Konna late last week, France decided to respond with a military intervention it declared was necessary to prevent Islamist forces from
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor interviewed by International Business Times
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was interviewed by International Business Times about Islamists in Mali.
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ISLAMIST GROUPS MOUNT JOINT OFFENSIVE IN MALI Just as the days of cooperation between the three Islamist groups that seized control of northern Mali last year seemed to be over,
Egypt’s Threat from Within: Who’s Who In The Madinat Nasr Cell
Amidst new political turmoil in Egypt, the investigation continues into the extent of the radical Islamist network disrupted by an October 24 police raid on the militants’ armory in the
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SUDANESE SECURITY FORCES RAID ISLAMIST TRAINING CAMP IN NATIONAL PARK A raid earlier this month on what was described as a Salafi-Jihadist training camp in a remote part of Sudan’s
Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor interviewed by Radio France International
Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was interviewed by Radio France International in an article entitled "Mali: EU aid to states, Washington expressed doubts about the level of ECOWAS."
The Return of War to Africa’s Great Lakes Region: Can the Revolutionary Army of the Congo Be Contained?
The seizure last week by mutinous Congolese soldiers of the city of Goma in the midst of the mineral rich Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
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TUNISIAN PRESIDENT WARNS OF GROWING STRENGTH OF SALAFI-JIHADI MOVEMENT Like Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Tunisia’s Islamist-dominated government is facing often violent demands for the immediate imposition of an Islamic state from
Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor interviewed on Radio France Internationale
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was interviewed on Mali for Radio France Internationale.
Hot Issue – The Face of Egypt’s Next Revolution: The Madinat Nasr Cell
A raid by Egyptian security forces in a suburb of Cairo on October 24 revealed an unexpected intersection of several important threads in the evolving security situation in the Middle
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AL-QAEDA SUPPORT IN NORTHERN MALI BEGINS TO CRUMBLE AS ALLIES PULL BACK It was an alliance that shocked security professionals and political observers—a coalition of Tuareg military veterans, Muslim militants
Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor cited by Toronto Star
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was cited by Toronto Star in an article entitled "Death of Hamas commander Ahmed Jabari heightens Mideast tensions."
Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor Cited in Times of Oman
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was cited in an article entitled "Is Al Qaeda seeing opportunities in Egypt?" by Times of Oman.
An article by Jamestown’s Andrew McGregor on the Mombasa Republican Council was reprinted on the UNHCR website.
An article by Jamestown's Andrew McGregor on the Mombasa Republican Council was reprinted on the UNHCR website.
Kenya’s Coast Province and the Mombasa Republican Council: Islamists, Separatists or Political Pawns?
Kenya’s decision to launch a military intervention in Somalia to eliminate the threat posed by the Islamist al-Shabaab movement has resulted in battlefield successes but has also led to terrorist
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ALGERIA WORKING TO SPLIT TUAREG ISLAMISTS FROM AL-QAEDA IN NORTHERN MALI Algeria has modified its stance on the conflict in northern Mali by dropping its insistence on a mediated settlement
Ethnic Warfare in Burundi: A Profile of Hutu Warlord Agathon Rwasa
The Central African nation of Burundi has reached a political crossroads. In the last decade Burundi has managed, with international assistance, to bring an end to a vicious civil war
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LIBYAN ISLAMIST ABD AL-HAKIM BELHADJ ON BENGHAZI CONSULATE ATTACK One of the most prominent Islamists to emerge as a political power in Libya’s post-Qaddafi era has offered his views on the
After the Strike: Tactics and Strategies of the Iranian Retaliation
Let’s begin with the assumption that Israel can overcome the logistical and political hurdles involved in mounting an attack on Iran’s nuclear development facilities, either unilaterally or in cooperation with
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FORMER MILITANTS OF EGYPT’S AL-GAMA’A AL-ISLAMIYA STRUGGLE FOR POLITICAL SUCCESS For decades one of Egypt’s most violent extremist groups, al-Gama’a al-Islamiya (GI) has been engaged in a struggle to establish
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KENYAN NAVY SOFTENS UP KISMAYO PRIOR TO AMISOM ATTACK Kenya’s navy continues to play an important role in the multi-national struggle against Somalia’s al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab movement by shelling the
War Crimes, Gold Mines and Mutiny in the North-East Congo: A Profile of General Bosco Ntaganda
Over 22 years of fighting for a variety of rebel-movements and national governments, General Bosco “The Terminator” Ntaganda has established himself as the leading warlord in the little-known Nord-Kivu province
Instability in Nigeria: The Domestic Factors
On June 19, 2012, The Jamestown Foundation held a conference on Boko Haram entitled "Threats to Nigeria's Security: Boko Haram and Beyond" at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in
Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood: Alternative Visions of an Islamist Egypt
In late July, Sheikh al-Mujahid Hussam Abd al-Raouf a prominent al-Qaeda ideologue, member of its strategy committee and editor of Vanguards of Khurasan, the magazine of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, presented a
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor Quoted in UPI Article
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor was quoted in a UPI article titled "Mali jihadists threaten North Africa."
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WAS AL-QAEDA’S SAHARAN AMIR MOKHTAR BELMOKHTAR KILLED IN THE BATTLE FOR GAO? Though al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) continues to deny the death of one of its leading amirs
Intervening in Mali: West African Nations Plan Offensive against Islamists and Tuareg Rebels
As Tuareg rebels battle radical Islamists with heavy weapons for control of the northern Mali city of Gao, Mali and the other 15 nations of the Economic Community of West
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IS RUSSIA SENDING A DETACHMENT OF THE BLACK SEA FLEET TO SYRIA? Despite a recent flurry of contradictory reports, it appears that a detachment composed of ships from the Russian
The Ideological Inspiration for Boko Haram: A Profile of Mallam Muhammadu Marwa and His Impact on Religious Extremism in Northern Nigeria
A statement from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) issued on June 21 warned that last week’s Boko Haram attacks on Christians in Kaduna and
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor Interviewed by the Toronto Star
Jamestown Foundation Analyst Andrew McGregor was interviewed on June 25 by the Toronto Star about the rule of law situation in post-war Libya.
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FATWA WARS CONTINUE AS SAUDI CLERIC BANS JIHAD IN SYRIA As both clashes with rebels and punitive violence increase in intensity within Syria, there have been numerous accounts of foreign
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor Interviewed by France 24
Jamestown Foundation Analyst Andrew McGregor spoke to France 24 about Iyad ag Ghali on December 6th.
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor Interviewed by Toronto Star
Jamestown Foundation Analyst Andrew McGregor spoke to the Toronto Star newspaper about women's rights in Egypt on May 23.
Sufis and Salafists Temporarily Unite in Dagestan
The recent signing of a resolution after a meeting of the Muslim Spiritual Board of Dagestan on the one side, and the Salafi-backed Association of Akhlu Sunna on the other
Thirtieth Anniversary of Sinai’s Liberation Marked by Libyan Arms, Bedouin Militancy and a Growing Rift with Israel
Though Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula has just marked its 30th anniversary of liberation from Israeli occupation, the region is perhaps less integrated with the rest of the Egyptian state now than at
Central Africa’s Tribal Marauder: A Profile of Fulani Insurgent Leader General Abdel Kader Baba Laddé
Operating from deep in the ungoverned bush of the northern part of the Central African Republic (CAR), a poorly educated Fulani tribesman from southern Chad leads a rebel movement of
“The Sons of the Land”: Tribal Challenges to the Tuareg Conquest of Northern Mali
After the last month’s shocking developments in Mali, including a military coup, the collapse of the national security forces, the conquest of northern Mali by Tuareg rebels and the emergence
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor’s Hot Issue on the Mali Coup d’Etat Cited by Stars and Stripes
Jamestown Editor Andrew McGregor's Hot Issue, "Mayhem in Mali: Implications of the Military Coup in Bamako", was cited by Stars and Stripes on March 26, the coup d'etat's effects on
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor’s Hot Issue on the Mali Coup d’Etat Cited by Reuters
Jamestown Editor Andrew McGregor's Hot Issue, "Mayhem in Mali: Implications of the Military Coup in Bamako", was cited by Reuters on March 25, in its article on rebels exploiting the
Hot Issue — Mayhem in Mali: Implications of the Military Coup in Bamako
Executive Summary: On March 21, 2012, a group of Army mutineers appeared on Mali's national television station to declare that they had ended President Amadou Toumani Toure's regime and put
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor’s Hot Issue on Libyan Fighters Cited by UPI
Jamestown Senior Fellow Andrew McGregor's Hot Issue, "Revolutionary Roadshow: Libyan Arms and Fighters Bring Instability to North and West Africa," was cited by UPI on March 8, in its article
Rebellion Without Reason: The Strange Survival of Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army
This article was originally published in the November 2011 Issue of Militant Leadership Monitor (mlm.jamestown.org). Subscribe to MLM today to receive leading analysis of militant figures like this without delay!
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor Is Interviewed in the National Post
The National Post interviewed Jamestown's Andrew McGregor on February 26 regarding Qatari foreign policy under the reign of Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
Bringing Militant Salafism to the Tuareg: A Profile of Veteran Rebel Iyad ag Ghali
Operating alongside the long-time Tuareg rebels and heavily armed veterans of the Libyan military that fill the ranks of Mali’s Mouvement National de Libération de l'Azawad (MNLA) is a smaller
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor Is Interviewed in the National Post
The National Post interviewed Jamestown's Andrew McGregor on February 17 regarding the strength of the Syrian government to withstand military defections.
The Strange Death of Dr. Khalil Ibrahim and the Future of the Darfur Insurgency
Khartoum scored a major victory in its nearly nine-year-old conflict with Darfur rebels with the December 24 killing of Dr. Khalil Ibrahim, leader of Darfur’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM),
Hot Issue — Revolutionary Roadshow: Libyan Arms and Fighters Bring Instability to North and West Africa: Part Two
Executive Summary: A year after the eruption of Libya’s spontaneous revolution, there are few signs of progress towards establishing internal security or a democratic government. Real power lies in the
Hot Issue — Revolutionary Roadshow: Libyan Arms and Fighters Bring Instability to North and West Africa: Part One
Executive Summary: A year after the eruption of Libya’s spontaneous revolution, there are few signs of progress towards establishing internal security or a democratic government. Real power lies in the
Boko Haram: A Militant Leadership Monitor Special Report
In this “Special Report on Boko Haram: Nigeria’s Islamist Movement” we examine the rise of Boko Haram’s elusive leader Abu Shekau, and the policies of the group’s charismatic leader –
“The Notion of Spring Does Not Exist in the Arab world”: Djibouti’s President Ismail Guelleh Wards off the Arab Spring
In a recent interview with a French-language African news magazine, Djibouti's head of state, Ismail Omar Guelleh, was asked if “the great wind of the Arab Spring” had “blown as
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor cited by National Post
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor was cited by National Post on December 19, 2011, in an article on the Arab Spring and the Gaddafi regime.
Rebellion Without Reason: The Strange Survival of Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army
After decades of carrying out unspeakable atrocities and thousands of kidnappings in Central Africa, the elusive commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Joseph Kony, appears to have narrowly escaped
Questions In Tajikistan Over Real Target of “Terrorist” Railway Bridge Bombing In Uzbekistan
A mysterious blast on a vital Uzbekistan rail route on November 17 has been followed by a stranger Uzbek disinterest in repairing the damage or sharing details of the investigation
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGreggor is cited by Reuters
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor was cited by Reuters on November 24, 2011, in an article on the Sahara & Sahel in a post-Gaddafi era .
Khartoum Besieged? : Sudan’s Rebel Movements Unite against the Center
Sudan’s military offensive against rebels in its southern Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan provinces has begun to spill over the new border with South Sudan with potentially devastating results for
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor cited by National Post
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor spoke to National Post on November 1 regarding Libya's post-Gaddafi government.
A Portable War: Libya’s Internal Conflict Shifts to Mali
Mali, like its neighbor Niger, is facing the return of an estimated 200,000 of its citizens from Libya. Most are Malian workers and their families who have been forced to
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGreggor is quoted by the National Post
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor spoke to the National Post on October 20 about the implications of Muammar Gaddafi's death for Libyan stability.
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor is interviewed by the Toronto Star
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor was interviewed in the Toronto Star on the subject of violence against Egyptian Coptic Christians.
What the Tuareg Do After the Fall of Qaddafi Will Determine the Security Future of the Sahel
At least 1,500 Tuareg fighters joined Muammar Qaddafi’s loyalist forces (though some sources cite much larger figures) in the failed defense of his Libyan regime. Many were ex-rebels residing in
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor cited by National Post
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor was cited by the National Post on September 12, 2011, in an article on the security situation in Libya.
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor cited in National Journal on Libyan military
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor was cited by the National Journal on September 1 regarding the Libyan military.
Hot Issue– Has Al-Qaeda Opened A New Chapter In The Sinai Peninsula?
Executive Summary: In the absence of police and government security forces, al-Qaeda-sympathetic movements, including al-Shabaab al-Islam (The Youth of Islam), have formed in the Sinai Peninsula. The demands of these
The Battle for Zinjibar: The Tribes of Yemen’s Abyan Governorate Join the Fight against Islamist Militancy
As if Yemen did not already face enough political, social and economic challenges in the midst of a multi-sided civil war, there are significant and not unreasonable fears in the
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor cited in Reuters article on Xinjiang
Jamestown Analyst Andrew McGregor was cited in the article, "ANALYSIS-China far west attacks expose violence's homegrown roots," written by Reuters on August 4, 2011.
A Profile of Sudanese Rebel Leader Abd al-Aziz al-Hilu: Continuing the Civil War in the Nuba Mountains
Since the mid-1980s, Abd al-Aziz al-Hilu has been one of the leading rebel commanders in Sudan. Well known for his organizational skills and dedication to replacing the Arab-dominated central government
The Muslim Brotherhood in Somalia: An Interview with the Islah Movement’s Abdurahman M. Abdullahi (Baadiyow)
The Jamestown Foundation recently posed a series of questions in an online interview with Abdurahman M. Abdullahi (Baadiyow), an Islamic scholar and prominent leader of the Islah (Reform) Movement in
The Abandoned Army: War Returns to Sudan’s Nuba Mountains
The people of South Kordofan have become caught up in the unresolved contradiction of the post-John Garang Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), which is now leading South Sudan into independence;
General Gabriel Tang: South Sudan’s Prodigal Son or Khartoum’s Agent of Chaos?
In the months following January’s successful vote for secession from the Republic of Sudan, South Sudan’s inherently weak government is already threatened by rebel militias, tribal violence and clashes between
From Rommel to Qaddafi: Petrol Supplies Still the Key to Military Success in Libya
“The bravest men can do nothing without guns, the guns can do nothing without plenty of ammunition, and neither guns nor ammunition are of much use in mobile warfare unless
Will al-Qaeda Survive the Loss of its Leadership?
Originally published: Terrorism Monitor Volume 8, Issue 24 (June 17, 2010)With rumors emerging once again of the death of Osama bin Laden, it seems like an appropriate time to examine
Special Commentary on Libya: It Didn’t Start This Way, But It’s a War For Oil Now
Executive Summary:After nearly two months of fighting in Libya, what began as a revolution against Mu’ammar Qaddafi’s repressive regime has turned into an internal and international struggle for control over
Egypt’s Internal Security Service Collapses in a Storm of Charges and Revelations
Trapped somewhere between revolution and counter-revolution, Egypt’s Ministry of the Interior is facing internal collapse amidst a disastrous leak of intelligence files, mysterious fires in records facilities, suggestions the ministry
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor Cited in The National Post
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor cited in the article: "Peter Goodspeed: A defiant Gaddafi digs in" published on April 2, 2011 in The National Post.
Restoring the Caliphate in Yemen: A Look at Shaykh Abd al-Majid al-Zindani
After decades of loyalty to Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the country’s best known and most controversial Islamic scholar has called for the regime’s downfall and the creation of an
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor and Militant Leadership Monitor Editor Derek Henry Flood Cited in VOA.
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor and Militant Leadership Monitor Editor Derek Henry Flood Cited in the article "Libya: a ceasefire and no-fly zone" by Erica Marat and Victoria Kupchinetskaya
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor Cited in Time Magazine
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor cited in the article "The Libyan Civil War: Gaddafi's Strategies for Victory" by Ken Stier published in Time Magazine on March 15, 2011.
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor Interviewed on Al Jazeera English
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor Interviewed in a segment for Al Jazeera English entitled "Losing the Diplomatic Battle" on March 11, 2011.
The Libyan Battle for the Heritage of Omar al-Mukhtar, the “Lion of the Desert”
Beyond the battle for the towns and cities of Libya, there is another battle raging over the legacy of Sidi Omar al-Mukhtar, Libya’s “Lion of the Desert.” The symbol of
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor and Analyst Camille Tawil Cited in Time Magazine
Jamestown Terrorism Monitor Editor Andrew McGregor and Analyst Camille Tawil cited in the article "Sert: The Desert City That Holds Gaddafi's Destiny" by Ken Stier, published in Time Magazine on
Mu’ammar al-Qaddafi’s Last Line of Defense: A Profile of Khamis al-Qaddafi
Khamis al-Qaddafi, son of Mu'ammar Qaddafi and leader of the Khamis Brigade Libya’s most important military commander has no combat experience and has achieved his rank through nepotism rather than
Update on African Mercenaries: Have Darfur Rebels Joined Qaddafi’s Mercenary Defenders?
*For more on African mercenaries in Libya, read Andrew McGregor's "Special Commentary: Can African Mercenaries Save the Libyan Regime?"
Special Commentary: Can African Mercenaries Save the Libyan Regime?
In recent days there have been reports that the Libyan regime of Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi has resorted to the use of foreign mercenaries to slaughter unarmed civilians protesting over four decades
“We Wish to Be In the Front Lines With You”: Islamist Radicals on the Lotus Revolution
Caught off guard no less than Egyptian authorities by the spontaneity of the anti-regime demonstrations that have swept Egypt, the ideologues of the Salafi-Jihadi trend have struggled to somehow incorporate
Special Commentary: Egypt’s Lotus Revolution- Scenarios for a New Middle East
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s February 1 announcement that he would step down at the end of his term in September but would not leave Egypt (“I will die on its
A Jihadi in the Horn of Africa: al-Shabaab’s Ahmad Abdi Godane “Abu Zubayr”
Shaykh Ahmad Abdi Godane “Abu Zubayr” appears to be losing his grip on the leadership of Somalia’s al-Shabaab, the largest and most formidable of the militant Somali Islamist groups operating
Defeating the “Forces of Paganism”: Former Military Intelligence Chief Hamid Gul Blends Pakistani Nationalism and Islamic Revolution
The retired former chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI), Lieutenant General Hamid Gul, is one of the most controversial political figures in Pakistan. Despite his once extremely close ties
The Triangle of Death: Central Africa’s New Hub of Regional Instability
As peacekeepers pull out of a notorious and remote corner of Africa known as the “Triangle of Death,” bands of gunmen are pouring in to fill the void in security.
From Guerilla Fighter to Independence Politician: The Story of South Sudan’s Salva Kiir Mayardit
With the January 9, 2011, referendum on South Sudanese independence only weeks away, a long-time rebel commander turned politician stands to become the first president of a new African nation
Cameroon Rebels Threaten Security in Oil-Rich Gulf of Guinea
A hybrid criminal/separatist movement operating in the swampy peninsula of Bakassi is now targeting oil industry infrastructure in the Gulf of Guinea in its effort to shake off Cameroonian control
Mali Pays the Price of al-Qaeda’s Asymmetrical Threat
Over half the world’s kidnappings for ransom occur in Latin America, however, among these nations only Mexico and Colombia merit official U.S. travel advisories that mention the danger of kidnapping.
Jihad in the Rasht Valley: Tajikistan’s Security Dilemma
Efforts by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to solve his problem with Islamist militants through lengthy sentences for detained opposition members encountered a serious reversal on August 22 when 25 militants
Puntland’s Shaykh Muhammad Atam: Clan Militia Leader or al-Qaeda Terrorist?
No roads penetrate the mountains of the Galgala district of Puntland’s Bari Region. Though it lies almost directly south of the bustling port of Bosasso, Puntland’s commercial capital, the moderate
Armored Trains Return to the Russian North Caucasus
A weapon thought by many to belong to military museums is making a return to active anti-insurgency operations in the North Caucasus: the armored train. First used for such purposes
Fire in the Desert: The Erdimi Twins and the Battle for Chad
When Chad became independent in 1960, the government came under the control of the tribes of the fertile southern region, who formed the majority of the population. However, it was
Tribal Resistance and al-Qaeda: Suspected U.S. Airstrike Ignites Tribes in Yemen’s Ma’rib Governorate
A small governorate of roughly 150,000 people, Ma’rib was once the heart of the great Sabaean civilization of pre-Islamic times, a land made prosperous by the construction of great irrigation
Admiral of the Desert – Muhammad Omar Osman and the Ogadeni Rebellion
The ceaseless destruction of Somalia by internecine clan warfare, sectarian conflict and foreign intervention continues to garner headlines in the international media; yet across Somalia’s border with Ethiopia there is
Renegade Generals Threaten Unity of South Sudan’s SPLA as Independence Referendum Approaches
As the January 2011 referendum on independence for oil-rich South Sudan approaches, ongoing mutinies and indiscipline within the South’s military may create conditions of insecurity that threaten to delay the
Algeria Launches Nation-Wide Counterterrorism Offensive
With al-Qaeda activities in the Sahel/Sahara region of Africa creating havoc with commerce, trade, resource extraction, tourism and general security, the nations of the region appear ready to mount a
Rebel Leader Turned Counter-Terrorist: Tuareg’s Ag Bahanga
Western anxiety over the spread of al-Qaeda-style Islamist militancy in the vast and inhospitable Sahara and Sahel regions of northern Africa has had unforeseen consequences for the survival of hardcore
Will Xinjiang’s Turkistani Islamic Party Survive the Drone Missile Death of its Leader?
Though it appears to have occurred on February 15, the death of the leader of al-Hizb al-Islami al-Turkistani (Turkistani Islamic Party - TIP) was reported only in recent days (Geo
Armored Trains Return to the Russian North Caucasus
A weapon thought by many to belong to military museums is making a return to active anti-insurgency operations in the North Caucasus: the armored train. First used for such purposes
Pakistani Taliban Display Effectiveness of their Intelligence Network with Attack on U.S. Special Forces
Following the Afghan Taliban intelligence coup that led to the late December suicide-bombing at an American base in Khost province that killed seven CIA agents, Pakistan’s Taliban have apparently scored
A Close-up Look at Darfur’s Paramount Rebel Leader: Dr. Khalil Ibrahim
Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Muhammad Achar Foudeil Taha is the chairman of Darfur’s Justice and Equality Movement (Harakat al-Adl wa’l-Muswaa – JEM), the most powerful and determined of the many armed
A Close-Up Look at Darfur’s Paramount Rebel Leader: Dr. Khalil Ibrahim
Dr. Khalil Ibrahim Muhammad Achar Foudeil Taha is the chairman of Darfur’s Justice and Equality Movement (JEM – Harakat al-Adl wa’l-Muswaa), the most powerful and determined of the many-armed movements
Saudi Military Operations along the Yemen Border Repel Houthist Incursion
After a two-month Saudi military offensive along the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border, the Houthist rebels of northern Yemen appear ready to abandon their brief occupation of small areas of Saudi Arabia’s
Opposition Group Promises Attacks Following Sanctions on Eritrea for Support of Terrorism
Tensions continue to rise in the volatile Horn of Africa as Eritrean insurgent groups promise a new wave of political violence following the imposition of UN sanctions against Eritrea for
Algeria Introduces New Military Strategy to Combat Terrorism in the Sahara
As al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) terrorists grow more active in the Saharan region, Algeria has introduced a new military strategy designed to restrict movement through the volatile border
French Operation in Afghanistan Aims to Open New Coalition Supply Route
Not far from the site of a disastrous encounter with Afghan insurgents last year, French forces have now mounted an offensive to clear the strategic Tagab valley of Taliban and
Perspectives on the Future of the Somali Jihad
For nearly a year now, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia has been waging a life or death struggle for survival against the repeated assaults of a radical Islamist
Karzai Claims Mystery Helicopters Ferrying Taliban to North Afghanistan
While the Western press has been occupied recently with accounts of fraudulent elections in Afghanistan and the alleged role of President Hamid Karzai’s brother as a paid CIA agent, a
Who’s Who in the Somali Insurgency: A Reference Guide
The ongoing struggle for control of Somalia is one of the world’s most complicated. With the country already effectively split into three parts, it may be too late to speak
Djibouti Facing Local Insurgency and Threats from Somali Islamists
Few nations in the world are as strategically important but as little known as Djibouti, a small desert nation of half a million people in the heart of the Horn
Counterterrorism Operations Continue in Tajikistan
Having recently abandoned the pretense that they were running anti-narcotics sweeps rather than counterterrorist operations in eastern Tajikistan, the Interior Ministry and the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) announced
Niger Delta Militants Mount First Ever Raid on Lagos Oil Facilities
Niger Delta militants in speedboats launched a devastating attack on Nigeria’s rapidly decaying energy infrastructure on July 13 by seizing and destroying a major oil distribution point in Lagos, a
The Baghdadi Tapes: Supposedly Imprisoned Iraqi Islamist Claims He Still Leads Fight against U.S. Occupation
Despite the arrest on April 23 of a man identified by Iraqi authorities as Abu Omar al-Husayni al-Baghdadi, the elusive leader of the “Islamic State of Iraq” (ISI), audio messages
Suicide Bombing Kills Somali Security Minister as Islamists Mount Assault on Mogadishu
A June 18 suicide bombing at the entrance of a hotel in the Somali town of Beled Weyne (the provincial capital of Hiraan province) killed Somalia’s Minister of Security, Colonel
Are the Afghan Taliban Using Tajikistan’s Islamist Militants to Pressure Dushanbe on NATO Supply Routes?
As Pakistan’s military continues to consolidate its control over the Malakand region of the North-West Frontier Province and talks of continuing on into South Waziristan, there is some apprehension in
Bombings and Shootings Reported Across North Caucasus
A month and a half after the President Dmitry Medvedev ordered an official end to the decade-long counter-terrorism operation in Chechnya, bombings and shootings have been reported there and in
Strange Days on the Red Sea Coast: A New Theater for the Israel-Iran Conflict?
Over the last few months, the strategically important African Red Sea coast has suddenly become the focal point of rumors involving troop-carrying submarines, ballistic missile installations, desert-dwelling arms smugglers, mysterious
Government Forces Overrun Tuareg Rebel Camps in Northern Mali
Mali's security forces appear to have broken the latest Tuareg rebellion in that country as a month-long offensive concludes with the seizure of all Tuareg bases in north Mali. The
Russia’s Arms Sales to Sudan a First Step in Return to Africa: Part Two
In March 2005, an earlier 2004 UN arms embargo on non-government forces in the Darfur conflict was expanded by the UN Security Council to include the Sudan government. Russia approved
Russia’s Arms Sales to Sudan a First Step in Return to Africa: Part One
Flush with petrodollars and beset by regional insurgencies and a possible resumption of the North-South civil war, Khartoum has become an important consumer of foreign arms despite a widely ignored
Alleged Assassins of U.S. Diplomat Claim Khartoum Regime Incites People to Jihad
The ongoing trial in Khartoum North of the alleged assassins of a U.S. diplomat is revealing some of the lethal undercurrents in the continuing struggle between different Islamist factions in
Taliban Target Karachi and Peshawar Links in NATO’s Afghanistan Supply-Chain
The announcement yesterday by General David Petraeus that the United States had reached agreements with Russia and several Central Asian nations for a new (and costly) U.S.-NATO supply route into
Somaliland Charges al-Shabaab Extremists with Suicide Bombings
With the completion of a month-long police investigation, Somaliland’s Interior Minister, Abdullahi “Irro” Ismail, has announced al-Shabaab extremists are responsible for the suicide bombings that killed more than 20 people
Turkey’s Gendarmerie: Reforming a Frontline Unit in the War on Terrorism
Turkey’s paramilitary Gendarmerie, a frontline unit in the War on Terrorism, is about to undergo some of the greatest changes yet in its long history. The reforms call for a
Shaykh Qaradawi Alarms Egypt with Warning of Shiite Imperialism
In remarks very similar to recent statements from Egyptian al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, a popular Doha-based Egyptian Islamic scholar has accused Iran of being behind a new wave of Shia
Turkey Planning to Eliminate Kurdish PKK Insurgents in the Coming Year
Turkey’s leading politicians and security officials gathered at the Prime Minister’s residence on September 11 to discuss approaches for Turkey’s ongoing struggle against the Kurdistan Workers Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan
Mass Attack on French Paratroopers Heralds New Taliban Tactics
Conflicting accounts of a Taliban ambush of an elite French military unit in the Surubi district of Kabul Province on August 18 have raised new concerns about the future of
Sudan’s Oil Industry Faces Major Security Challenges
Sudan’s growing oil industry has already transformed the capital of Khartoum and has the potential to raise living standards throughout the country. The industry, dominated by Asian multinationals, nevertheless faces
Local Islamist Movement Massacred in Chad after Threatening Holy War
An alleged rising led by an Islamic preacher in the oil-rich southern region of Chad was repressed with great loss of life by government forces in the first days of
Darfur’s JEM Rebels Bring the War to Khartoum
Last weekend’s daring raid on greater Khartoum by Darfur’s rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has shaken the regime and effectively disrupted the already morbid peace process in West Sudan.
Leadership Bloodbath Marks Failure of Uganda’s LRA to Sign Peace Treaty
For two decades Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has plunged northern Uganda into a nightmare of atrocities, sadistic mutilations, child-kidnappings and sexual slavery, all in the name of establishing
Targeting the Khyber Pass: The Taliban’s Spring Offensive
Taliban Deputy Leader Mullah Bradar Muhammad Akhand announced “a new series of operations” under the code name “Operation Ebrat” (Lesson) on March 27. The Taliban’s spring offensive is “aimed at
Oil Industry at the Heart of the Zaghawa Power Struggle in Chad
It was only a few years ago when the African nation of Chad was being promoted as a groundbreaking example of a new model of transparent oil revenue distribution that
Turkey’s Operation Gunes Attempts to Eliminate the PKK Threat
As Turkish troops and armor cross the border as part of Operation Gunes (Sun), the embattled nation of Iraq is once more host to a major military offensive, this time
The Shaykh Said Revolt and Ankara’s Return to the Past in its Struggle with the Kurds
After the recent admission by some of Turkey’s leading former military commanders that the military option was not the best or only way of resolving Turkey’s Kurdish problem, it is
South Waziri Tribesmen Organize Counterinsurgency Lashkar
Four days after the murder of nine members of a government-sponsored peace committee in the Pakistani region of South Waziristan, tribal leaders have vowed to organize a special force of
Oil and Jihad in Central Africa: The Rise and Fall of Uganda’s ADF
In the midst of all the horrors generated in Central Africa by the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and the collapse of Zaire in 1997, a little known group of Islamist
Peacekeepers or Provocateurs? Kremlin-Backed Chechen Troops Raise Tensions in Abkhazia and South Ossetia
The unannounced and surprising arrival of pro-Russian Chechen military units as “peacekeepers” in Georgia’s separatist provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has sparked widespread speculation as to the reason behind
Turkey’s Generals Speak out on Counter-Terrorism Strategies
Turkish journalist Fikret Bila has just released an important work based on interviews with a number of retired Turkish military commanders. Komutanlar Cephesi (The Commanders’ Position) examines the generals’ views
UN/African Union Peacekeepers in Darfur Unlikely to Succeed
Despite optimistic predictions, the expected deployment of the “hybrid” United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur (UNAMID) is in peril. It now seems there will be no peace to keep
Tactical and Strategic Problems of a Turkish Winter Campaign in Northern Iraq
As Turkish troops mass along the border with Kurdish northern Iraq, chief of the Turkish General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit has promised to make the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers
Controversial Syrian Preacher Abu al-Qaqa Gunned Down in Aleppo
As Syrian preacher Dr. Mahmud al-Aghasi, known as Abu al-Qaqa, left an Aleppo mosque after Friday prayers on September 28, an assassin stepped out of a car and opened fire
Tactical and Strategic Factors in Turkey’s Offensive Against the PKK
A Turkish military offensive in the ethnic-Kurdish provinces of southeastern Turkey began in mid-September. Turkey's autumn campaigns against the militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) usually do not begin
Mining for Energy: China’s Relations with Niger
A latecomer to the exploitation of foreign energy resources, China has resorted to developing economic relationships with high-risk yet energy-rich nations like Niger in order to maintain its extraordinary pace
Mining for Energy: China’s Relations with Niger
A latecomer to the exploitation of foreign energy resources, China has resorted to developing economic relationships with high-risk yet energy-rich nations like Niger in order to maintain its extraordinary pace
Leadership Disputes Plague Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
A battle is underway for control of the leadership of Algeria's last major armed Islamist group. A country exhausted by violence has used a combination of amnesties and military action
Wad Banda Raid Shows Khartoum Losing Control of Darfur Conflict
A daring rebel raid 200 kilometers into the Sudanese province of Kordofan suggests that the Darfur conflict may actually be spreading, despite the initiation of Darfur peace negotiations in Tanzania
TURKEY AT THE INTERSECTION OF ISLAM AND KEMALISM
Tuesday’s announcement of the re-nomination of Turkey’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul for the post of president of Turkey puts the nation’s fiercely secularist military only one step away from reporting
PKK Arms Scandal Fuels Turkish Suspicions
U.S. policy in Kurdish northern Iraq seems to be in flux, reflecting differences within the U.S. administration and the growing bitterness in U.S.-Turkish relations since Turkey prohibited the movement of
China’s Oil Offensive Strikes: Horn of Africa and Beyond
In its efforts to expel an Islamist government and capture a handful of inactive al-Qaeda suspects in Somalia, the United States has risked its political reputation in the region through
China’s Oil Offensive Strikes: Horn of Africa and Beyond
In its efforts to expel an Islamist government and capture a handful of inactive al-Qaeda suspects in Somalia, the United States has risked its political reputation in the region through
Hybrid Force: The UN’s Peacekeeping Gamble in Darfur
A close examination of the terms of the Darfur peacekeeping mission approved by UN Security Council Resolution 1769 offers little confidence that the mission will be any more successful than
Niger’s Uranium Industry Threatened by Rebels
As the focus of U.S. justifications for its invasion of Iraq and the subsequent "yellowcake" political scandal, both the African country of Niger and its considerable uranium reserves have become
Turkey’s Dark War: Counter-Terrorism Strategies for the 21st Century
Turkey has experienced a long and painful history of terrorism. During nearly two decades of terrorist attacks and brutal fighting with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), some 35,000 lives were
Massoud Barzani Conducting Dangerous Games in Northern Iraq
With the Turkish army massing on the border of northern Iraq, the hard-won gains of Iraq's Kurdish nationalists now face a serious threat. Massoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan
Turkey’s Evolving Anti-Terrorism Measures on the Iraqi Border
Along the Turkish-Iraqi border, the struggle between Turkish security forces and Kurdish militants is escalating. The Turkish press has released testimonies from captured Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants who claim
Battleground Somalia: America’s Uncertain Front in the War on Terror
On June 14, Somalia's National Reconciliation Conference (NRC) was postponed for the second time. It is now possible that the conference will never be held. The NRC has been long
Ethiopia Faces Ethnic Fallout from Somalia Intervention
During the month of May, Ethiopia faced a series of attacks from its own ethnic-based rebel groups. The attacks come as a consequence of its invasion of Somalia last December,
Situation in Somalia Remains Precarious
After several weeks of relative calm in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, expelled Islamist leaders now based in Eritrea have pledged to continue attacks despite setbacks suffered in battles with
Yemen and the U.S.: Different Approaches to the War on Terrorism
Following the introduction of a new two-year plan to eliminate religious-based political extremism in Yemen, President Ali Abdullah Saleh made an official visit to Washington from April 30 to May
Turkey’s Coming Offensive Against the Iraqi-based PKK
The creation of a largely autonomous and peaceful "Kurdistan" in northern Iraq is often trumpeted as a major success in post-Baathist Iraq. Any progress made, however, toward an independent nation
The Leading Factions Behind the Somali Insurgency
The U.S.-supported Ethiopian invasion that expelled Somalia's Islamist government last December is rapidly deteriorating into a multi-layered conflict that will prove resistant to resolution. Resistance to Ethiopian troops and the
Turkey Turns up the Heat in Northern Iraq
Although a final decision has not yet been made in the Turkish capital of Ankara, preparations by the Turkish armed forces continue for a series of strikes against the northern
Yemeni Sheikh al-Zindani’s New Role as a Healer
Despite being designated by the United States and the United Nations as a "global terrorist," Yemen's Sheikh Abdul Majid al-Zindani continues to be protected by the Yemeni government. Most recently,
YouTube: The New Video Front for Chechnya’s Mujahideen
While internet video-sharing sites like YouTube continue to be dominated by a sea of pop music videos and a vast assortment of odd people recording themselves doing even odder things,
Weapons and Tactics of the Somali Insurgency
After being driven from the Somali capital of Mogadishu to the port city of Kismayo by Ethiopian troops in late December, Islamist leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed urged "Islamic Courts
Expelling the Infidel: Historical Look at Somali Resistance to Ethiopia
The U.S.-supported Ethiopian invasion of Somalia has an unsettling resemblance to the British-supported Ethiopian incursions in the early years of the 20th century. In both cases, the Western powers became
Somalia’s Islamist Leadership: Where Are They Now?
Bombings, shootings and mortar attacks continue in Somalia's capital of Mogadishu and the southern port city of Kismayo, as Somali Islamists engage Ethiopian occupation forces. Many Islamist leaders took refuge
Iraqi Insurgents Claim New Generation of Missiles Being Used
In the short span of January 20 to February 7, four U.S. military and two private security firm helicopters were lost due to enemy ground fire in Iraq, raising concerns
Achimez Gochiyayev: Russia’s Terrorist Enigma Returns
In the wake of the London poisoning of former FSB Colonel Alexander Litvinenko came unexpected reports that the alleged “terrorist mastermind” and organizer of the September 1999 apartment block bombings
Accusations Fly After the Pierre Gemayel Assassination
In the aftermath of the war with Israel, Hezbollah and its allies (the Shiite Amal Party and Christian leader General Michel Aoun) are struggling to depose the Lebanese government of
Aleksandr Litvinenko: An Islamist Threat?
One of the most surprising elements in the recent poisoning of the former FSB officer Aleksandr Litvinenko is his apparent deathbed conversion to Islam. At first, there seemed little reason
Death of a Jordanian Mujahid: Abu Hafs al-Urdani
Shortly after the Jordanian Arab Abu Hafs al-Urdani succeeded the late Abu Walid as the commander of the foreign mujahideen in Chechnya, his death or detention was declared a priority
Accuracy of New UN Report on Somalia Doubtful
A report by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia leaked to the Washington Post on November 14 has set off a wave of denials and denunciations from various countries alleged
Hezbollah Denounces Alleged Attempt to Turn Lebanon into a ‘New Iraq’
Three months after the end of the Israeli/Hezbollah war, there is growing tension between Hezbollah and the "March 14" anti-Syrian political coalition that dominates the Lebanese government. In an October
Suspects Arrested in Yemen for Supporting Somali Islamists
Confusion continues to surround the case of eight foreign nationals and 15 Yemenis arrested in Yemen in October in relation to an alleged al-Qaeda plot to smuggle small-arms to Islamists
Somalia Hostilities Threaten Outbreak of Regional War
After years of mutual hostility, the armed forces of two states and the armed militias of one failed state are poised to unleash a potentially devastating war in the Horn
Chechen Troops Accompany Russian Soldiers in Lebanon
In a surprise move, the Russian Defense Ministry assigned security responsibility for its team of military engineers in Lebanon to two detachments of Chechen troops, despite the outcry from human
Israel Accuses Syria of Smuggling Arms into Lebanon
Renewed Israeli claims that Syria continues to rearm Hezbollah in defiance of UN Resolution 1701 come at a time when there are fears in Israel that Arab groups in Gaza
Concerns Mount over Hezbollah’s Rearmament
As the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) completes its withdrawal this week from southern Lebanon, there are fears in Israel that the Hezbollah movement is consolidating and even expanding its arsenal,
Russia Reorganizes its War on Terrorism
In August 2006, the Russian Interior Ministry (MVD) announced changes in the security structure of the North Caucasus that would dissolve the Regional Operational Headquarters responsible for counter-terrorism, replacing it
Khartoum’s Murdered Journalist: A Casualty in Islam’s Theological Civil War
The brutal decapitation of Khartoum newspaper editor Muhammad Taha earlier this month was part of a much larger inter-Islamic struggle reaching from the mountains of northwest Pakistan through Darfur, Tunisia,
Support for Hezbollah in Egypt Threatens Mubarak’s Stability
The success of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement in battle against Israel's armed forces has reminded Egyptians of their own military difficulties against Israel in three major conflicts (1948, 1967 and 1973).
Hezbollah’s Creative Tactical Use of Anti-Tank Weaponry
As the world waits to see if the UN-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon holds, the Israeli army will begin assessing its disappointing performance against Hezbollah guerrillas. Among the many aspects to
Hezbollah’s Rocket Strategy
Rockets are not new weapons, nor are they strangers to Middle East warfare. Size, range and destructive power are all factors in the development of rocket-based strategies, the ultimate of
Hezbollah’s Tactics and Capabilities in Southern Lebanon
With its attack on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Israel is fighting on terrain that has been prepared by the Shiite movement for six years since the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon
The Amnesty Offensive: Breaking Down Basaev’s Network
Seven full years into the latest Russian/Chechen war, the death of the leading Chechen warlord, Shamil Basaev, has created new conditions that the Kremlin is eager to exploit. This month’s
Yemen Convicts PSO Members Involved in February’s Great Escape
In Yemen's "war on terrorism," the legal merry-go-round continues. On July 12, a dozen officers from Yemen's Political Security Organization (PSO) received sentences between eight months and three years and
Russia Threatens Hit-Squads after Murder of its Diplomats in Iraq
The brazen Baghdad kidnapping of four Russian embassy employees took place on June 3, only 400 meters from the Russian embassy. Violating the security protocols of the embassy, an embassy
New Fronts, New Focus: Dokku Umarov’s War on Russia
To the surprise of many, the independent government of Chechnya made an orderly transition of power after the killing of former President Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev earlier this month. Succeeding the charismatic
Pakistan Launches New Offensive in Balochistan
Since the forcible annexation of the Baloch Khanate of Kalat by Pakistan in 1947, the Balochistan region has seen a succession of revolts against political centralization and resource exploitation. Balochistan
Islam, Jamaats and Implications for the North Caucasus – Part 2
For "Islam, Jamaats and Implications for the North Caucasus - Part 1," please see https://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2370014 Many of the military leaders of the North Caucasian jamaats were trained by warlord Ruslan
Toronto’s Terrorist Conspiracy
During the afternoon of June 2, Toronto residents were shocked to learn of the arrest of 17 would-be Islamist terrorists accused of planning an attack on the downtown headquarters of
Islam, Jamaats and Implications for the North Caucasus – Part 1
In the last few years, Russian security forces have inflicted considerable damage on Chechen resistance forces, most notably with the elimination of Chechnya's president, the late Aslan Maskhadov. Like hitting
A Sour Freedom: The Return of Russia’s Guantanamo Bay Prisoners
During the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a ready market developed for the seizure and sale of foreign individuals to U.S. forces as suspected Taliban or
Warlords or Counter-Terrorists: U.S. Intervention in Somalia
As the insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq continue to dominate headlines, a new front in the war on terrorism has opened in Somalia. At a brutal cost to Mogadishu's civilian
Bin Laden’s African Folly: Al-Qaeda in Darfur
Could a United Nations peacekeeping mission face al-Qaeda's fighters in Darfur? According to Osama bin Laden, if a UN force deploys in the region, al-Qaeda will attack UN troops. On
GSPC Leader Issues New Threat to U.S. Military Bases in North Africa
A recent threat from a prominent Algerian jihadist may expand Algeria's 14-year-old Islamist revolt to include U.S. military targets in the African Sahara and Sahel. The statement, issued by Mukhtar
Prosecuting Terrorism: Yemen’s War on Islamist Militancy
Any observer of Yemen's political scene cannot help but notice that Yemen appears to be awash with al-Qaeda suspects. Mass trials follow mass arrests as hundreds of suspects flow through
“The Chechen Network” on Trial: Terrorist Prosecutions in Paris
Modern France has a long history of dealing with terrorists, whether the bomb-throwing anarchists of the late 19th century or the more sophisticated Corsicans, Basques and Islamists of the late
Islamists and Warlords Clash in Mogadishu
Hopes of restored stability in war-ravaged Somalia have been dashed as warlords and Islamists skirmish across battle-lines in Mogadishu. The new Transitional Federal Government (TFG), once expected to restore order
Radical Ukrainian Nationalism and the War in Chechnya
On March 18 Russia’s Prosecutor General announced the launch of a criminal case involving the participation of a number of Ukraine’s leading radical nationalists as mercenaries in the war in
Stand-Off in Yemen: The al-Zindani Case
The war on terrorism is fought in Yemen in the press and courtrooms as well as in the mountains and deserts. Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, is a veteran political
Distant Relations: Hamas and the Mujahideen of Chechnya
Introduction In a bold attempt to reassert Russian influence in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued an invitation for leaders of the Palestinian Hamas movement to visit
Al-Qaeda’s Great Escape in Yemen
Yemen’s U.S.-sponsored fight against al-Qaeda suffered a severe blow last week with the escape of 23 convicts from a high security prison in the capital of Sana’a. Among the escapees
Al-Qaeda Suspects on Trial in Yemen
Yemen is preparing to try a number of prisoners who are accused of being associated with al-Qaeda terrorist activities in Yemen and abroad. The most notable prosecution involves Muhammad Hamdi
Crescent Under the Cross: Shamil Basaev’s Orthodox Enemy
There is little left of the Orthodox Church establishment in Chechnya. Most of Chechnya's ethnic Russian Christian minority fled in the early 1990s during the creation of Dzhokar Dudaev's independent
Al-Qaeda Manhunt in Kenya
Kenya is widely remembered as the site of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing that killed over 200 people and cast al-Qaeda into international prominence. The attack was followed by a
DOKKU UMAROV: THE NEXT IN LINE
While warlord Shamil Basaev dominates the headlines of the Chechen conflict, a lesser-known guerrilla leader has worked his way into a crucial position in the Chechen leadership. Dokku Umarov was
Upheaval in Nalchik: New Directions in the Chechen Insurgency
When Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev succeeded the late Aslan Maskhadov as the leader of the Chechen resistance, he was initially described by Russian sources as an Arab and a representative of al-Qaeda.
Terrorism and Violence in the Sudan: The Islamist Manipulation of Darfur, Part Two
This is the second of a two part series on Islamism and Terrorism in Darfur. The conflict in Darfur is closely tied to the War on Terrorism, largely because the
Terrorism and Violence in the Sudan: The Islamist Manipulation of Darfur
The following article is the first in a two part series on Islamism and Terrorism in Darfur. The United States has made some strange alliances in the War on Terrorism,
Al-Azhar, Egyptian Islam and the War in Iraq
The recently replaced flag of Iraq has three stars in its middle band, representing a stillborn alliance between the great Arab nations of Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. Though the wave
The Assassination of Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev: Implications for the War on Terrorism
The February 13 assassination in Qatar of former Chechen President Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev by Russian agents is one of many challenges to international law posed by the new tactics of the
Shi’ite Insurgency in Yemen: Iranian Intervention or Mountain Revolt?
In the midst of growing political tensions between Iran and the United States a Shi'ite rebellion in the remote mountains of northwest Yemen has created suspicions that Iran may be
The Indefinable War
How are we to evaluate the success of a "War on Terrorism" (WOT)? On the one hand, the United States has not experienced a foreign terror attack on its soil
Ricin Fever: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the Pankisi Gorge
With Russia once again threatening pre-emptive strikes on "terrorist" installations in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, it seems timely to re-examine the alleged activities of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the
“Operation Boomerang”: Shamil Basaev’s Justification For Terrorism
Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev is no stranger to violence. In the turbulent world of the northern Caucasus, Basaev has fought in the Abkhaz rebellion of 1992-93, and played a central
Military Rebellion and Islamism in Mauritania
Mauritania, the vast desert refuge of the Arab/Berber Moors in northwest Africa, may seem a distant front in the war on terrorism. Yet the pro-Israel/U.S. policies of its President, Maaouya
The Jamaat Movement in Kabardino-Balkaria
Shortly before his death in March 2005, Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov made some interesting remarks about the spreading political violence in the Russian republics of the Northwest Caucasus. Maskhadov described
Al-Qaeda’s Egyptian Prophet: Sayyid Qutb and the War On Jahiliya
If the war on terror is to be won, we must first understand the perspective of our opponent. One of the principal inspirations for the type of Islamist ideology pursued
THE JAMAAT MOVEMENT IN KABARDINO-BALKARIA
Shortly before his death in March 2005, Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov made some interesting remarks about the spreading political violence in the Russian republics of the Northwest Caucasus. Maskhadov described
BEYOND THE MYTH: A REVIEW OF THE WOLVES OF ISLAM
Few conflicts in modern times have been so poorly known or understood as the Russo-Chechen war. And as the struggle over Chechnya is propelled to the forefront of the War
MILITARY REBELLION AND ISLAMISM IN MAURITANIA
Mauritania, the vast desert refuge of the Arab/Berber Moors in northwest Africa, may seem a distant front in the war on terrorism. Yet the pro-Israel/U.S. policies of its President, Maaouya
ABU HAFS AL-URDANI: THE QUIET MUJAHID
A little known veteran jihadist, Abu Hafs al-Urdani, made a rather dramatic entrance onto the world stage on February 5, 2003, when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell displayed his
RICIN FEVER: ABU MUSAB AL-ZARQAWI IN THE PANKISI GORGE
With Russia once again threatening pre-emptive strikes on "terrorist" installations in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, it seems timely to re-examine the alleged activities of Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the
THE INDEFINABLE WAR
How are we to evaluate the success of a "War on Terrorism" (WOT)? On the one hand, the United States has not experienced a foreign terror attack on its soil
Shi’ite Insurgency In Yemen: Iranian Intervention Or Mountain Revolt?
In the midst of growing political tensions between Iran and the United States a Shi'ite rebellion in the remote mountains of northwest Yemen has created suspicions that Iran may be
The Assassination Of Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev: Implications For The War On Terrorism
The February 13 assassination in Qatar of former Chechen President Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev by Russian agents is one of many challenges to international law posed by the new tactics of the
Al-azhar, Egyptian Islam And The War In Iraq
The recently replaced flag of Iraq has three stars in its middle band, representing a stillborn alliance between the great Arab nations of Iraq, Syria, and Egypt. Though the wave
“operation Boomerang”: Shamil Basaev’s Justification For Terrorism
Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev is no stranger to violence. In the turbulent world of the northern Caucasus, Basaev has fought in the Abkhaz rebellion of 1992-93, and played a central
Al Qaeda’s Egyptian Prophet: Sayyid Qutb And The War On Jahiliya
If the war on terror is to be won, we must first understand the perspective of our opponent. One of the principal inspirations for the type of Islamist ideology pursued
ABU HAFS AL-URDANI: THE QUIET MUJAHID
A little known veteran jihadist, Abu Hafs al-Urdani, made a rather dramatic entrance onto the world stage on February 5, 2003, when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell displayed his
BEYOND THE MYTH: A REVIEW OF THE WOLVES OF ISLAM
Few conflicts in modern times have been so poorly known or understood as the Russo-Chechen war. And as the struggle over Chechnya is propelled to the forefront of the War
DOKKU UMAROV: THE NEXT IN LINE
While warlord Shamil Basaev dominates the headlines of the Chechen conflict, a lesser-known guerrilla leader has worked his way into a crucial position in the Chechen leadership. Dokku Umarov was
Crescent Under the Cross: Shamil Basaev’s Orthodox Enemy
There is little left of the Orthodox Church establishment in Chechnya. Most of Chechnya's ethnic Russian Christian minority fled in the early 1990s during the creation of Dzhokar Dudaev's independent
Distant Relations: Hamas and the Mujahideen of Chechnya
Introduction In a bold attempt to reassert Russian influence in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued an invitation for leaders of the Palestinian Hamas movement to visit
Radical Ukrainian Nationalism and the War in Chechnya
On March 18 Russia’s Prosecutor General announced the launch of a criminal case involving the participation of a number of Ukraine’s leading radical nationalists as mercenaries in the war in
“The Chechen Network” on Trial: Terrorist Prosecutions in Paris
Modern France has a long history of dealing with terrorists, whether the bomb-throwing anarchists of the late 19th century or the more sophisticated Corsicans, Basques and Islamists of the late
A Sour Freedom: The Return of Russia’s Guantanamo Bay Prisoners
During the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a ready market developed for the seizure and sale of foreign individuals to U.S. forces as suspected Taliban or
New Fronts, New Focus: Dokku Umarov’s War on Russia
To the surprise of many, the independent government of Chechnya made an orderly transition of power after the killing of former President Abdul-Khalim Sadulaev earlier this month. Succeeding the charismatic
The Amnesty Offensive: Breaking Down Basaev’s Network
Seven full years into the latest Russian/Chechen war, the death of the leading Chechen warlord, Shamil Basaev, has created new conditions that the Kremlin is eager to exploit. This month’s
Russia Reorganizes its War on Terrorism
In August 2006, the Russian Interior Ministry (MVD) announced changes in the security structure of the North Caucasus that would dissolve the Regional Operational Headquarters responsible for counter-terrorism, replacing it
Chechen Troops Accompany Russian Soldiers in Lebanon
In a surprise move, the Russian Defense Ministry assigned security responsibility for its team of military engineers in Lebanon to two detachments of Chechen troops, despite the outcry from human
Death of a Jordanian Mujahid: Abu Hafs al-Urdani
Shortly after the Jordanian Arab Abu Hafs al-Urdani succeeded the late Abu Walid as the commander of the foreign mujahideen in Chechnya, his death or detention was declared a priority
Aleksandr Litvinenko: An Islamist Threat?
One of the most surprising elements in the recent poisoning of the former FSB officer Aleksandr Litvinenko is his apparent deathbed conversion to Islam. At first, there seemed little reason
Achimez Gochiyayev: Russia’s Terrorist Enigma Returns
In the wake of the London poisoning of former FSB Colonel Alexander Litvinenko came unexpected reports that the alleged “terrorist mastermind” and organizer of the September 1999 apartment block bombings
YouTube: The New Video Front for Chechnya’s Mujahideen
While internet video-sharing sites like YouTube continue to be dominated by a sea of pop music videos and a vast assortment of odd people recording themselves doing even odder things,