#Mali 🇲🇱- After 11 years: EU🇪🇺 member states decided not to extend the eutmmali mandate beyond 18 May 2024, after 'strategic review & consultations with🇲🇱authorities & taking into account the evolution of the political & security situation on the ground.'eeas.europa.eu/eeas/mali-comm…

🇸🇹🇷🇺| Almost nobody noticed it but Russia signed a cooperation agreement & military cooperation few days ago with Sao-Tome and Principe 🇸🇹

This country is a little island in West Africa right in front of Gabon 🇬🇦 …

#Benin 🇧🇯 reportedly bans ships from loading oil from #Niger 🇳🇪 until its re-opening the border. The 2.000km pipeline lands in Seme Kpodji. China🇨🇳 is the key investor in this project & has good relations with both countries, its Ambassador to 🇧🇯 was informed by the 🇧🇯 Gov.

#Niger 🇳🇪 - The cargo plane that arrived Saturday morning in Niamey & carried 'military equipment + relief aid' was a Russian🇷🇺 Air Force (223rd Flight Unit State Airline) Il-76 MD (reg. RA-78847 | 1533FF) which departed Friday from Syria🇸🇾, potentially with a stopover in Libya🇱🇾.

In Niger, the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum has been detained for nine months by his former body guards. He paces a bedroom with no direct daylight, can't talk to his lawyers and spends his day reading Tolstoy, Shakespeare and Marxist theory
nytimes.com/2024/05/04/wor…

#BurkinaFaso 🇧🇫 - A Falcon 8X (reg. D-AAND | #3C45C4 ) formally operated by 'Zeman Flugtechnik und Logistik München GmbH' but actually used by Germany's🇩🇪 Foreign Federal Intelligence Service 'BND' is about to land at #Ouagadougou airport, departed from Berlin.

#Niger 🇳🇪 - An Air Force C-130H (reg. 5U-MMS) flew yesterday from Niamey to Ankara-Esenboga🇹🇷 Airport. It’s parked far away from the terminal, that’s why I assume it’s possibly picking up cargo. There are several contracts between Turkish Defense companies & Niger for equipment.

#Niger 🇳🇪 - Yesterday evening a Quantum Systems UAS (drone with 2.8m wingspan) type VECTOR crashed in #Koura , #Diffa . Germany🇩🇪 donated some of those UAS in the past to Niger.

#Niger 🇳🇪- A 'FAI Air Ambulance' Challenger 604 (D-AFAD) arrived at the civil Agadez airport. It is scheduled to leave to US Air Base Ramstein🇩🇪 - indicating that the patient could be a US service member. The CNSP is currently denying diplomatic clearances for US military flights.

#Benin 🇧🇯 - President Talon received US🇺🇸 AFRICOM Commander General Langley today. They discussed „the strengthening of relations between the United States and Benin in the field of security, in particular the fight against terrorism, violence and extremism in the sub-region.“

Russian troops have now entered a base in Niger that is housing U.S. troops as well, a senior U.S. official tells Reuters. While the Russian troops are in a hanger further down the airfield at Airbase 101, the official said the situation 'is not great.' W/Phil Stewart

#Niger 🇳🇪 - General Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)🇺🇸, told BBC News (World) in a very recent interview: „Our talks are still ongoing, whether we reset or reposition, it will really be based on a threat and also as every country we engage with is on a request of that country.“

Niger – Agadez: poisoning of animals in Tabélot, authorities questioned over the irresponsible use of chemicals by a Chinese company operating a gold mine in the vicinity.

airinfoagadez.com/2024/05/02/nig…

#Benin 🇧🇯-The US🇺🇸 Embassy handed over military equipment worth $3 million to the 🇧🇯army: GPS devices, helmets, body armor & other material. Important is the handover of 4 tankers for Jet A-1 fuel for aircraft, which allows refueling of 🛩🚁 even far away from existing bases.

Chad will hold presidential elections in a week. Done deal for Mahamat Deby ? What are the geopolitical implications and the impact of the Sudan crisis ? Final results not due until June 5. In the meantime a few thoughts from last week’s trip .....

#Tchad 🇹🇩 - Hungary’s🇭🇺 Special Envoy for the Sahel says the reporting by 'Tchad One' on the recent arrival of Hungarian soldiers in N'Djamena is 'fake news'.
Keep in mind that the 🇭🇺parliament had agreed to the deployment of up to 200 soldiers to Tchad in spring 2024.

#BurkinaFaso 🇧🇫 - During the opening of the 'SNC Bobo 2024', paratroopers demonstrated their skills and jumped out of the Air Force's Airbus C295W (reg. XT-MBH | #09CD45 ). The 'rtb' report also allowed a look at the interior configuration of the C295.

#Ghana 🇬🇭 - A Gulfstream IV (reg. N48GL - A5E6E1) owned by Phoenix Air, a US🇺🇸 military contractor, is currently on the way to #Accra from Naples🇮🇹 (US Naval Forces Europe/Africa HQ). #PH608