Israel's President Herzog Hosts West African Muslim Leaders to Promote Israel-Africa Cooperation

Good news! Not all Muslims are terrorists, but too many are!

"President Isaac Herzog welcomed a delegation of senior Muslim religious leaders from five West African countries to Jerusalem on Monday, using the visit to foster interfaith cooperation and highlight Israel’s growing partnerships across Africa.

The delegation, organized by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, included imams and community leaders from Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo. Their mission, described as both spiritual and practical, aims to promote closer ties between Muslim communities in Africa and the State of Israel. ..."

Herzog Hosts West African Muslim Leaders to Promote Israel-Africa Cooperation

Senegal and West Africa' new disease alert and surveillance system

Good news! Maybe some African countries will introduce these sophisticated health monitoring systems faster than the West.

"When patients at clinics throughout Senegal test positive for diseases like malaria, their cases are linked to a digital “web of surveillance” maintained by hospitals and clinics throughout the country. 

The system, Senegal’s Syndromic Sentinel Surveillance System (“4S”), is run by the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, and allows health officials to quickly trace disease patterns in real time.  

So far, the system has flagged malaria mutations, dengue outbreaks, and the spread of West Nile virus.  

Regional expansion: The 4S model now spans 10 West African countries, creating a “regional tripwire” that detects outbreaks. ..."

"... Healthcare workers at 44 “sentinel sites” – hospitals and clinics enrolled in the program – enter each patient’s symptoms into a centralised database via phone or laptop. From here, the system produces a weekly bulletin mapping disease patterns across the country.

When anomalies appear – clusters of fevers, spikes in diarrhoea – samples taken routinely from every patient are rushed by motorbike to IPD in Dakar or its satellite laboratories. 

There, they are analysed using high-tech diagnostic machines. 

Each vial of blood or saliva is screened for a range of infectious diseases: Covid-19, malaria, tuberculosis, Zika, yellow fever, Ebola – even the plague. 

Samples are also genomically sequenced, scrutinised letter by letter for mutations or changes in the pathogen’s DNA.

Any abnormalities are uploaded to international databases and shared with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global surveillance network. 

It means that within hours, health authorities across Africa – and beyond – know that something new is moving through Senegal’s clinics. ..."

Global Health NOW: Big Tobacco’s Legislative Coups; and Senegal’s Disease Sentinel

Inside the alert system protecting West Africa from the next pandemic "An invisible web of surveillance hunts dangerous pathogens before they can spread and spiral out of control"

Institut Pasteur de Dakar

Egypt builds road linking Red Sea to Chad and West Africa

Good news!

Teens unable to walk, mothers with rash-covered babies: How the drug Kush is ruining lives

Bad news! Horrible! "A drug that is 25 times more powerful than Fentanyl is ripping communities apart in West Africa. Kush looks like marijuana but is a synthetic cannabinoid mixed with opiates that can easily be bought and smoked. ... And key precursors are being shipped into Africa from the UK." 

Caution: This is a very distressing video.

Turkey and Russia are advancing as a leading alternative to Western security partnerships across West Africa

Concerning? The Scramble for Africa continues!

"Turkey is advancing as a leading alternative to Western and Russian security partnerships across West Africa as it moves to backfill recently departed French forces in Chad. Russia’s and Turkey’s efforts to fill the security void left by decreased Western engagement in West Africa are not mutually exclusive and are sometimes complementary. Turkey’s growing role as a leading counterterrorism partner in Africa and Syria could lead to increased Salafi-jihadi attack plots in Turkey."

"... The French state-owned outlet Radio France Internationale reported on January 31 that Chad planned to base Turkish drones and Turkish drone technicians at the Faya-Largeau air base in north-central Chad and Abéché air base in eastern Chad. Multiple outlets reported in early February that Chad and Turkey signed an agreement in mid-January that granted Turkey “control” of the Abéché air base. Other reports only noted that Chad agreed to host Turkish personnel at Abéché to train the Chadian Air Force. ...

Turkish advisers and trainers are present in many other francophone African countries that are diversifying their partnerships away from the West while simultaneously facing worsening Salafi-jihadi insurgencies. An attack by al Qaeda’s Sahelian affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wa al Muslimeen (JNIM), in October 2024 killed two Turkish soldiers near the Burkinabe border, confirming reports that Turkish trainers were present in northern Togo. Turkish personnel instruct Togolese forces, help clear mines, and pilot helicopters to improve border security in northern Togo. Turkey sought to expand preexisting training efforts in Mali and Niger in 2024 that had been in place for several years.

Turkey is a leading provider of drones in Africa. Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Togo all use Turkish drones in their counterterrorism operations. Turkish drones have an optimal price-to-performance ratio for many African countries as they are more affordable than similar Western models but perform better than cheaper Chinese or Iranian drones. Turkish drone diplomacy has built on preexisting defense ties in places such as Nigeria and created defense ties that Turkey has expanded on in francophone West Africa.

Turkey reportedly sent more than a thousand Syrian mercenaries to Burkina Faso and Niger in 2024. ... The mercenaries are reportedly primarily responsible for protecting crucial economic sites where the Turkish government has a shared stake, such as mines. ...

Russia’s and Turkey’s efforts to fill the security void left by decreased Western engagement in West Africa are not mutually exclusive and are sometimes complementary. ... Turkish and Russian officials frame themselves as non-colonial alternatives that put fewer conditions on their assistance than their Western counterparts. France and Turkey have been rivals for influence in Africa for over a decade, and Turkey repeatedly criticized France’s decade-long military intervention in the Sahel as neocolonial. Turkish outreach leverages Turkey’s shared Muslim roots and cultural values with the majority-Muslim Sahelian countries as a comparative advantage over the West and Russia.

Russia’s and Turkey’s defense partnerships with African countries often address different partner-country needs and sometimes complement each other. The Malian junta leverages Turkish drones and trainers to augment its forces while over 1,000 Russian personnel are engaged in a direct combat capacity alongside the Malian army.

Turkish mercenaries in Burkina Faso and Niger protect high-value economic targets, whereas the small Russian contingents in these countries primarily focus on training and on protecting the junta leaders. ... reported that Sadat put some mercenaries under the command of Russian advisers in Niger, while Wagner Group–linked sources claimed that Sadat-linked technicians in Mali operate and maintain Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones that support Malian and Russian forces.

Russian and Turkish overlap in Africa could give Russia insight into the Turkish drone systems used by African partner governments.  ..."

Africa File, February 13, 2025: Saf Announces Government Plan And Russian Naval Base; Drc Concedes To Direct Talks With M23; Turkey’s Growing Defense Partnerships In Africa | Critical Threats

Figure 6. Russian and Turkish Defense Partnerships in Africa

US Warns of ISIS Rising in West Africa with Palki Sharma

Concerning!

West Out, Moscow In? Russia's Satellite Deal with Junta-run Sahel States with Palki Sharma

When the dictators of the world unite! Have fun with Putin the Terrible!

The stupid West (i.e. France, Emanuel Macron) allowed Russia to move in!

300 criminals and suspects Arrested across 5 continents in Interpol Op against West African Cyber Crime Gangs with Palki Sharma

Good news! Very recommendable! Probably, this was long overdue!

Across 5 continents

Mali and Niger to end unlawful colonial tax agreements with France

Recommendable! The last vestiges of colonialism are being removed!

Gabon coup attempt: Military officers say they have taken power

Another military coup in one of the francophone countries of West Africa after Niger!

How Did France Colonize Niger and West Africa? with Palki Sharma

Very recommendable! Palki forgot to mention that France imports uranium from Niger for its nuclear power plants.

Innerhalb kürzester Zeit ist mit Niger nun die Dritte vom Westen gestützte Regierung in der Sahelzone von einer militärischen Diktatur ersetzt worden

Keine gute Entwicklung in Westafrika!

Gescheitert im Sahel | Manova-Magazin Jedes Mal war man von der Entwicklung überrascht worden. Sowohl in Mali als auch in Burkina Faso waren die zivilen Regierungen in den letzten beiden Jahren durch Militärs ersetzt worden. Jetzt auch in Niger. Dabei haben westliche Militärs und Politiker doch nach eigener Darstellung eng mit den örtlichen Behörden und Regierungen zusammengearbeitet. Was sagt das aus über die Missionen des Westens?

West African Bloc ECOWAS Mobilises Troops Against Niger with Palki Sharma

Recommendable! Keep in mind that Niger is the 7th largest producer of uranium in the world.

Economic Community of West African States threatens use of force if President Bazoum of Niger is not reinstated

Good news! This seems to be an unusual development! Are African nations more willing to restore government by the people? Will ECOWAS be able to reverse the very recent military coup in Niger? 

Niger soldiers declare coup on national TV

Bad news!

Pre-19th century Benin Bronzes found to be made of German brass

Quality Made in Germany recognized all over the world! (just kidding) 😊

"... In this study, researchers performed chemical analysis on 67 manillas recovered from five Atlantic shipwrecks and three land sites in Europe and Africa dating between the 16th and 19th centuries, specifically identifying lead isotope signatures and trace element compositions of the metal. They found a strong similarity between the metal composition of the Benin Bronzes and that of the manillas used in Portuguese trade prior to the 18th century, suggesting these manillas were a major source of metal for the sculptures.

Furthermore, the composition of those manillas is similar to ores from the German Rhineland, suggesting that Germany was the principle source of metal for production of pre-18th century manillas and, ultimately, the Benin Bronzes. The consistency in metal composition of the Bronzes suggests that African metalsmiths were very selective about what metal they would use. ..."

From the abstract:

"Utilizing geochemical analysis, this study identifies the sources of European brass used in the casting of the renowned Benin Bronzes, produced by the Edo people of Nigeria. It is commonly believed that distinctive brass rings known as “manillas”, used as currency in the European trade in West Africa, also served as a metal source for the making of the Bronzes. However, prior to the current study, no research had conclusively connected the Benin artworks and the European manillas. For this research, manillas from shipwrecks in African, American and European waters dating between the 16th and 19th Century were analysed using ICP-MS analysis. Comparing trace elements and lead isotope ratios of manillas and Benin Bronzes identifies Germany as the principal source of the manillas used in the West African trade between the 15th and 18th centuries before British industries took over the brass trade in the late 18th century."

Benin Bronzes found to be made of German brass

German brass for Benin Bronzes: Geochemical analysis insights into the early Atlantic trade

Table 1. Manillas typology

Fonio, a Drought-Resistant Grain from West Africa Could Feed a Warmer World

Recommendable!

American hostage rescued in West Africa by SEAL Team 6 in daring raid

Bravo President Trump! The message is unmistakable, do not take American citizens as hostages anywhere in the world! Especially not in a presidential election year!

This event may portent that the Trump administration in their second term would focus more on Africa not least to counter the growing Chinese influence!

"No U.S. military personnel were injured during the [high risk] operation." Stunning! U.S. military professionalism at its best!

"The raid included the extremely long-distance movement of forces via multiple C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft flights and the employment of a quartet of both CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotors and MC-130 special operations transports, the latter of which pushed through Rota, Spain, before continuing to their target. AC-130 gunships and a large contingent of aerial refueling tankers also supported this operation. ... The CIA provided intelligence that led to locating Walton, and Marine Special Operations elements in Africa helped find his whereabouts, a former U.S. official told ABC News. The operation reportedly involved the governments of the United States, Niger, and Nigeria."

SEAL Team Six makes dramatic, high-risk rescue of American held hostage in Nigeria The captors 'were all dead before they knew what happened'

Under Jihadi Siege, Christians in West Africa Are Praying for a Miracle

A very concerning issue! The widespread persecution of Christians in Africa by Islamic terrorists is very much underreported!



"Burkina Faso is one of several vulnerable African nations that are frequently targeted for terrorism and Christian persecution.



Along with Nigeria—where reportedly more than 1,200 Christians were killed by jihadists in the first six months of 2020—the “Group of Five” in sub-Saharan West Africa deserves attention. They are Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. ... according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in Burkina Faso [about 23% of the population are Christians], “Five percent of the country’s entire population—an astonishing one in 20 people—is now displaced in the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian and protection crisis.”"



Under Jihadi Siege, Christians in West Africa Are Praying for a Miracle