Killing of #Christians - #Sahel and Somalia: The Epicenter of Violence

In the Sahel region, a staggering 11,643 fatalities were linked to Islamic violence in 2023, marking a record high for any of the five African theaters. This represents a nearly threefold increase from the levels seen in 2020, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in the region.

Violence against civilians in the Sahel accounts for 35 percent of all Islamic-related events, the highest percentage across the continent. However, it’s important to note that the actual numbers may be higher due to underreporting, attributed to shrinking media coverage in the wake of political instability in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The report underscores that a significant portion of the surge in fatalities can be attributed to the Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) coalition, particularly the Macina Liberation Front (FLM) and Ansaroul Islam. This Muslim coalition was associated with a 67-percent spike in reported deaths, making it a major driver of violence in the Sahel. - RAIR Foundation

Two blocs-the Saudi-led, and the UAE-led-will utilize MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

Saudi-led bloc, including Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and now increasingly coordinating with Somalia, Turkey, and Qatar, will react to the UAE-led bloc, with robust participation from Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The implications are far-reaching: Besides domestic politics in Ethiopia, Somaliland, and Somalia, and potentially in Kenya, geopolitical implications could reach beyond the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, linking the Middle East with North Africa, Horn of Africa, and the Sahel.

Seen in light of the escalating maritime threats, partly due to the Gaza war, the effectiveness of US's "Operation Prosperity Guardian" could be curtailed.

Liberia-flagged cargo vessel with Indian crew hijacked off Somali coast

The MV Lila Norfolk cargo vessel sailing under Liberia’s flag with an Indian crew onboard has been captured near Somalia’s coast, India’s ANI news agency reported.

According to the agency, the situation is being closely monitored by the Indian Navy. "The hijacked ship has 15 Indians on board and communication has been established with the crew," a military source said.

It is also reported that the Indian Navy warship INS Chennai is moving toward the hijacked vessel. According to the Indian Navy, the vessel sent a message reporting being boarded by approximately "five to six unknown armed personnel" on the evening of January 4.
"Naval aircraft are continuously monitoring movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance," the Indian Navy said.

Amid all the Red Sea drama, Ethiopia now appears to have access to the sea through an agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland.

🔶️ Detailed negotiations to reach a formal agreement will be concluded in a month, said Redwan Hussein, national security adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

🔶️ The MoU will enable Ethiopia to lease access to the Red Sea from Somaliland to use as a military base and for commercial purposes for 50 years, Hussein said. Ethiopia can also build infrastructure and a corridor, he said at a briefing on Monday in the capital Addis Ababa attended by Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi.

🔶️ In October, Abiy in a televised lecture identified access to the ocean as a strategic objective and warned that failure to secure it could lead to conflict before toning down his comments.

🔶️ Abiy’s remarks drew rebukes from Eritrea, Somalia and Djibouti, all of whom described their sovereignty and territorial integrity as sacrosanct and not open for discussion.

🔶️ The Horn of Africa nation lost direct access to the sea in 1993, when Eritrea gained independence after a three-decade war. Its main trade route now runs along roads and a railway that link the capital, Addis Ababa, to a port in Djibouti, one of five neighbors with coastlines that include Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan and Kenya.

🔶️ More than a fifth of the world’s global commerce transited the Red Sea that connects the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal before attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi rebels led some ships to re-route around Africa to avoid the violence.

🔶️ Amid all the Red Sea drama, Ethiopia now appears to have access to the sea through an agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland.