Tuareg Rebels in Mali Declare Independence

Rebel Tuareg forces operating in Mali have declared an independent nation called Azawad. The rebels have control over a vast swath of Mali's northern territory. The rebels were aided greatly by the smuggling of sophisticated weaponry from Libya, and the return to their homeland of several Tuareg mercenaries who had served and trained under the Qadhafi-regime in Libya. Analysts have expressed concerns that the rebels have ties with Islamist terrorists, most notably al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). There is concern that the rebels' success in Mali will embolden their fellow tribesmen living in surrounding countries, e.g. Niger and Burkina Faso. This could greatly add to the turmoil in the region and further strengthen the hand of the aforementioned terrorist organizations. Mali is reeling from the insurrection. In fact, Malian armed forces rebelled against the democratically elected government on 21 March 2012, in large part due to the government's seeming inability/unwillingness to properly arm the military in its fight against the Tuareg rebels.

Turkey Quietly Establishing Buffer Zone along Syrian Border

In an effort to stave off an expected mass exodus of Syrians fleeing the countries civil war, Turkey is quietly establishing a buffer zone. This prospective area of operation is inside Syrian borders, as the Turkish government would prefer to keep the internally displaced peoples (IDPs) from crossing the border and becoming refugees. Special forces and intelligence operatives are busily laying the groundwork for the effort. It is unclear if Ankara intends this to be a unilateral action or will seek international cooperation.

Military Coup Rocks Mali

In a stunning turn of events, soldiers stationed in the garrison town of Kati, seemingly seized control of the Malian capital, Bamako. The troops mutinied over the government's inability to properly address the ongoing Tuareg insurgency. Sporadic clashes between rebel forces and those loyal to the government erupted throughout the day, but there seemed little firm opposition to the coup. A spokesman for the rebels, identified as Lt. Amadou Konare, announced the dissolution of the government and declared martial law. The whereabouts of President Amadou Toumani Toure are uncertain.

Southwestern France on "Scarlet Alert" Status

Following the harrowing attack on Jewish school children in Toulouse yesterday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy elevated the Midi-Pyrenees region's security level. The weapon used in the attack was the same one used in the murder of three French paratroopers in the same region earlier this month. Terrorism has long plagued the country, but this new spate of attacks seems to indicate a new threat.

Links to my work for the Defense Language Institute

Angola: Country in Perspective (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011), http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/cip/angola/default.html

Georgia: Country in Perspective (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011), http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/cip/georgia/default.html

Portuguese (Angolan): Cultural Orientation (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011),
http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/angola/pa_co/default.html

Sri Lanka: Country in Perspective (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2012),

http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/cip/srilanka/default.html

Tamil: Cultural Orientation (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011),

http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/tamil/co_tc/default.html  

Telugu: Cultural Orientation (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011), http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/telugu/co_te/default.html

Links to some of my work for the Defense Language Institute

Angola: Country in Perspective (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011), http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/cip/angola/default.html

Georgia: Country in Perspective (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011), http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/cip/georgia/default.html

Portuguese (Angolan): Cultural Orientation (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011),
http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/angola/pa_co/default.html

Sri Lanka: Country in Perspective (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2012),

http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/cip/srilanka/default.html

Tamil: Cultural Orientation (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011),

http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/tamil/co_tc/default.html  

Telugu: Cultural Orientation (Monterey, CA: Defense Language Institute, 2011), http://famdliflc.lingnet.org/products/telugu/co_te/default.html

Developments in Syrian Civil War

On the same day as two more top Syrian generals defected to the rebel cause, a team of Russian anti-terrorist marines arrived to aid Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's beleagured regime. The move comes as a bit of a shock  to many observers. Although Russia has staunchly supported the al-Assad regime in the United Nations and the international media, this marks a turning point not only in Russia's Middle East policy but in its post-Cold War international policy.

The Obama administration has offered verbal support to the Syrian rebels but has vacilated on offering anything more concrete. It remains to be seen how the U.S. will react to Russia's new initiative.

Terrorists on Motorcycle Kill U.S. Teacher in Yemen

Yemeni officials said mounted gunmen killed Joel Shrum, a U.S. teacher working for a Swedish school in the city of Taez. This occured just days following the abduction of a Swiss teacher by al-Qaeda linked terrorists.

Yemen has become an increasingly unstable country following the political theater ushered in by the Arab Spring that began in 2011. Al-Qaeda already had a foothold in the backward nation; however, with the threat of all out civil war looming, terrorists associated with al-Qaeda and other organizations have a freer hand in operating with impunity.