DTN News - MALI UNREST (AFRICA): Nigerian Air Force Deploys Two Alpha Jets To Mali

DTN News - MALI UNREST (AFRICA): Nigerian Air Force Deploys Two Alpha Jets To Mali

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources  By  Senator Iroegbu - All Africa
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 21, 2013: Abuja — Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in continuation of its forces deployment to Mali has sent two Alpha Jets to strengthen the ECOWAS intervention force battling extremist rebel forces in Mali's northern flank.

The fighter jets, which was authorized for combat operation by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, took off yesterday from the domestic wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Air Component Commander, Air Vice Marshal Tayo Oguntoyinbo, led the Alpha Jet team and flew to Niamey, in Niger Republic, where they will be based during the Mali operations.

Accordingly, the team of fighter pilots was seen off by the Chief of Training and Operations at Nigerian Air Force headquarters, AVM Dickson Dillimono, as they flew out of Abuja for Niamey.

Speaking to journalists before the take-off of the fighter jets, the Director of Information and Public Relations, NAF, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, disclosed that the next deployment of Nigerian Air Force Mi-35 Helicopters from Nigeria to Mali will take place later today.

Anas also revealed that the NAF C-130 aircraft have continued to airlift Nigerian Army personnel and equipment to Mali.

He said: "We went to drop our regiment personnel from Port Harcourt, Rivers state to Mali yesterday (Thursday). This afternoon (Friday), we are having our Alpha Jets which will start their movement down to Mali.

"Yesterday the CAS (Bade) went to Port Harcourt to be able to administer the movement of our own troops to Mali and today we are witnessing the Alpha Jets that will be moving to Mali this afternoon.

"You will see the briefing of the team of pilots (team of four pilots led by AVM Omotoyinbo), after that they will start their aircraft and deploy straight to Mali via Niamey, Niger Republic."

The two fighter jets, Alpha Jets NAF 455 and NAF 452 Dassault-Brguft Donnier 78 are said to be the game-changer that helped ECOMOG forces led by Nigeria contain Charles Taylor and his forces during the Liberian conflict.

Military sources said the jets also played a similar role in the Sierra Leonean civil war and ensured that peace was enforced at the West African sister country.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By  Senator Iroegbu - All Africa
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - MAURITANIA DEFENSE NEWS: Mauritania Receives Brazilian-Made Super Tucano Jet Fighter

DTN News - MAURITANIA DEFENSE NEWS: Mauritania Receives Brazilian-Made Super Tucano Jet Fighter

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The North Africa Post
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - October 25, 2012: Mauritanian Air Force has received its first Brazilian-made Super Tucano jet fighter under a military deal passed last march with the aircraft manufacturer Embraer, without saying how many planes will be delivered to the African nation.

However, some foreign diplomatic and intelligence sources say that Mauritania will be supplied at least three EMB-314 Super Tucano light military planes which can be used for pilot training, reconnaissance, internal security, border patrol and counter-terrorism and anti-narcotics trafficking missions.

Equipped with an advanced laser inertial navigation and attack system, a GPS and a traffic alerting and collision avoidance system (TCAS), the Super Tucano has an integrated advanced weapon system. This includes  a centerline hard-point for air-to-surface weapons beneath the fuselage, besides wing-embedded cannons.

The aircraft also includes the Safire thermal imaging system from FLIR, which allows the aircraft to carry out night surveillance and attack missions. Powered by a PT6A-68A turboprop engine developing 969kW, the aircraft can fly at a maximum speed of 560km/h. It is also capable of operating from remote bases and unpaved runways.

Designed to operate in high temperature and humidity conditions in extremely rugged terrain, the Super Tucano is highly maneuverable, has a low heat signature, and incorporates 4th generation avionics and weapons systems. It is currently used by the air forces of Brazil, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, and has been ordered by the armies of Guatemala and Angola.

Mauritania, which has a population of 3.5 million, is facing growing terrorist threats in the Sahel region which has become a safe haven for organized crime and terrorist networks.

After the Islamist extremists took control of Northern Mali, thousands of refugees fled into Mauritania, placing additional strain on resources as the country is itself rocked by internal turmoil and struggling with a food crisis engulfing the whole Sahel region.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The North Africa Post
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News: Nigerian Islamist Attacks Spread

DTN News: Nigerian Islamist Attacks Spread

*Analysis: Tensions are never far from the surface in northern Nigeria. Poverty and competition for scarce resources, along with ethnic, cultural and religious differences have all fuelled sudden violence. But the latest violence is not between communities, it involves young men from religious groups, arming themselves and attacking local police. Fringe religious groups in Nigeria have claimed links to the Taliban before - individuals have also been accused of links to al-Qaeda. But Nigeria is very different to countries like Mali or Algeria, where groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb operate. The idea of radical Islamist militants gaining a serious foothold in Nigeria is usually dismissed, because of the strength of local identities and traditions. By Caroline Duffield, BBC News, Nigeria

*Source: DTN News / BBC (NSI News Source Info) LAGOS, Nigeria - July 28, 2009: Dozens of people have been killed after Islamist militants staged three attacks in northern Nigeria, taking the total killed in two days of violence to 150. A BBC reporter has counted 100 bodies, mostly of militants, near the police headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State, where hundreds are fleeing their homes. Witnesses told the BBC a gun battle raged for hours in Potiskum, Yobe State and a police station was set on fire. Some of the militants follow a preacher who campaigns against Western schools. The preacher, Mohammed Yusuf, says Western education is against Islamic teaching. There has also been an attack in Wudil, some 20km (12 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria. A curfew is in force in Bauchi, the scene of Sunday's violence. Sharia law is in place across northern Nigeria, but there is no history of al-Qaeda-linked violence in the country. Nigeria's 150 million people are split almost equally between Muslims and Christians and the two groups generally live peacefully side by side, despite occasional outbreaks of communal violence. Militants chanting "God is great" attacked the Potiskum police station at about 0215 local time (0115 GMT) - the same time as the raid was launched in Maiduguri. The police station and neighbouring buildings in Potiskum have been razed to the ground, eyewitnesses say. Two people have been confirmed dead and the police have made 23 arrests. Fringe group The corpses of civilians are scattered around the streets of Maiduguri, after being pulled from their cars and shot, eyewitnesses say. The police and army are patrolling, firing into the air, apparently trying to clear civilians from the area. There are unconfirmed reports of a jailbreak in the town. In Wudil, three people have been killed and more than 33 arrested. The senior police officer in Wudil has been wounded. Security is said to have been beefed up in Plateau State, to the south of Bauchi, where hundreds were killed in clashes between Muslims and Christians last year. Mr Yusuf's followers in Bauchi are known as Boko Haram, which means "Education is prohibited". They attacked a police station on Sunday after some of their leaders were arrested. Correspondents say the group is seen locally as a fringe group and has aroused suspicion for its recruitment of young men, and its belief that Western education, Western culture and science are sinful.

Algeria Strengthens Military Ties With Mali

Algeria Strengthens Military Ties With Mali

(NSI News Source Info) BAMAKO, Algeria - May 5, 2009: Algeria has begun delivering military equipment to Mali as part of strengthened military cooperation between the neighboring countries, military sources said here May 4. The move follows a recent visit to Algeria by Mali's defense minister, during which he had talks with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. "This aid is rich and varied. I can tell you, for example, that it includes fuel for our troops, sleeping bags for special operations forces and even weapons," a source close to the army chiefs of staff said. A second military source said the army was expecting a total of five planeloads of military equipment from Algeria. Algeria has in recent months helped broker a settlement between Tuareg rebels active in northern Mail and the government in Bamako. The Tuaregs are a nomadic desert people. Malian troops last month arrested four suspected Islamist militants after an exchange of fire in the desert region of northern Mali, near the Algerian border. The men are suspected of links to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the north African wing of Osama Bin Laden's terrorist group active in Algeria, who are holding two European tourists hostage.