Capture of Inkinane Ag Attaher
A Key Figure in Regional Destabilization
On the night of April 3-4, 2025, Nigerien security forces arrested Inkinane Ag Attaher, a prominent figure in the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA), at the Niger-Nigeria border. A former Malian army officer turned deserter, Ag Attaher has long been sought for his role in facilitating foreign interference and destabilization in the Sahel.
Ag Attaher is accused of coordinating the training and equipping of FLA fighters with kamikaze drones, leveraging connections with foreign intelligence services. He reportedly facilitated the deployment of FLA operatives to Ukraine for specialized training and arranged for Ukrainian trainers to operate in Mali. Injured in February 2024 during a drone operation, he was discreetly evacuated through Mauritania.
A founding member of the Mouvement National de Libération de l’Azawad (MNLA) and advisor to its leader, Bilal Ag Acharif, Ag Attaher is implicated in numerous destabilizing activities, including attacks on military bases and the deadly assault on a boat in Timbuktu that claimed the lives of women and children. He is also suspected of collaborating with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) during massacres in Ménaka and Gao in 2022.
His arrest marks a turning point in the fight against terrorism and foreign interference in the Sahel, sending a clear message that betrayal and complicity with hostile forces will not go unpunished.
Arrest of JNIM Operative in Tillabéri
In a separate operation on April 3, 2025, the Nigerien Army intercepted a suspected senior member of Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) along the Torodi–Niamey route in the Tillabéri region. The suspect was apprehended at approximately 6:30 p.m. during a routine operation. A search of the suspect's vehicle uncovered a firearm, several mobile phones, and 5,032,900 CFA francs, believed to be intended for procuring logistics to support terrorist activities.
Further investigations led troops to a garden in the village of Boborgou, allegedly used as a logistical base by armed groups. Items recovered included food supplies, communication airtime credit, clothing, and black fabric suspected to be used for camouflage. Additionally, a nearby school building was found to house a significant stockpile of pasta, reportedly meant to sustain active terrorist elements in the area.
The suspect is also linked to the hijacking of two vehicles between Makalondi and Niaktiré on April 2. Security operations in the region remain ongoing as part of broader efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore stability.
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A Fragile Ceasefire in Eastern DRC
Amid ongoing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), two nearly identical statements released on April 23, 2025, announced an immediate ceasefire. One was signed in Goma by a member of the rebel group AFC/M23—someone not even officially part of the delegation—and the other was issued by the Congolese government in Kinshasa.
Ituri Under Surveillance
Rising Security Concerns The political fragmentation in eastern DRC continues to threaten the fragile stability of Ituri. The failure of the Doha process and the breakdown of the republican pact could pave the way for a new wave of unrest in the region. On April 22, 2025, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, met with leaders of the Lendu militia CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of the Congo) in Entebbe. Officially, the meeting was convened to address CODECO’s attack on Ugandan military positions in Ituri, a confrontation that adds to past clashes between the group and the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Key Figures and Discussions The CODECO delegation, led by Dunji Kulukpa Etienne (Vice President of the Lendu community), included political and militant representatives. On the Ugandan side, top-ranking officials participated: • General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, CDF • Lieutenant General Kayanja Muhanga, Land Forces Commander • Major General Felix Busizoori, Commander of the 4th Infantry Division • Brigadier General Oscar Munanura, Deputy Assistant Chief of Intelligence and Security Earlier in the week, CODECO leaders had already engaged with Ugandan military commanders. During the Entebbe meeting, Mr. Dunji expressed gratitude for Uganda’s reception and apologized for the Fataki clashes between CODECO and the UPDF. He claimed the militia had been influenced by external forces and emphasized that the Lendu, Balega, and Bahema communities do not view Uganda as an adversary. Dunji also highlighted Ituri’s worsening humanitarian crisis, attributing it to political divisions, while praising Uganda’s contributions in healthcare, refugee assistance, and economic aid. Uganda’s Expanding Influence in Ituri General Kainerugaba reaffirmed Uganda’s historical presence in North Kivu and Ituri, citing counter-insurgency operations dating back to the early 2000s. He urged CODECO leaders to collaborate with the UPDF in pursuit of a lasting peace. As a demonstration of goodwill, Ugandan forces provided free medical care to wounded CODECO fighters. Strategic Implications: A Larger Agenda? While Uganda frames this meeting as a step toward reconciliation, analysts at African Security Analysis suggest a deeper motive. They argue that the gathering was part of a broader effort to integrate CODECO into the militant coalition led by Thomas Lubanga, potentially setting the stage for coordinated offensives in Ituri, particularly targeting Bunia. If confirmed, this would signal a significant shift in the security landscape, with Uganda deepening its influence in Ituri under the guise of conflict resolution. The region remains under scrutiny as stakeholders assess the evolving dynamics.
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