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Burkina Faso sees sharp drop in terrorist activity following US Intervention ADA News - Sept. 11th, 2020 The small african country of Burkina Faso made headlines a few weeks back when rumors started surfacing about a US military intervention against the terrorist organisation Boko Haram. Rumors and unverifiable videos flooded social media claiming to show “western men with advanced military equipment” conducting military operations. Reports of explosions and airstrikes were also reported, especially in the country's lawless Kujari Province. A spokesperson of the Burkinese government stated to ADANews that the country has seen “a sharp drop in terrorist activity” and that the Burkinese Army is working closely with its US allies to restore order to the fractured country. When pressured about the rumors of chemical weapons present in the country he was reluctant to answer and just referred to earlier official government statements. With the US withdrawing part of its forces in Burkina Faso following several successful operations against Boko Haram the door has now opened for private contractors. Much like the infamous Blackwater, these contractors occupy a gray area between soldier and mercenary and have been the subjects of heavy controversy in the past. Bringing these contractors into Burkina Faso following the partial US withdrawal seems to have had a noticable impact however as terrorist activity in the country has continued to drop at a steady rate. The extent of the contracts awarded is not yet known but at least three "PMCs" have been confirmed to have contractors in Burkina Faso: The Eastern European Fire Wolves Contracting The Russian Wagner Group The US Based Cold Harbor Of the three Cold Harbor is by far the largest, holding contract across Africa and the MIddle East worth several Billion US Dollars, including but not limited to: targeted assassinations of known terrorists, ISR and Aerostat intelligence gathering, profiling, training the Burkinese army, aerial surveillance and direct airstrikes using suicide drones and light strike aircraft. Contractors from the Private Military Company "Cold Harbor" detaining suspected terrorists after a raid alongside the Burkinese military Simon Tam ADANews

//SECRET//JSOC//MARSOC From: [email protected] <Clark Williams> To: [email protected] <Mark Stanton>, [email protected] <Sean Whelan>, [email protected] <Jim Teival> Subject: Notice of Deployment All Commands and Attachments are hereby notified that Alpha Company, 3d MRB; Alpha Section, 160th SOAR; and Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 1st SFG, and all supporting detachments are to prepare for immediate deployment to the country of Mali in support of ongoing operations by coalition forces in the region. All commands are to ensure OPSEC through rank and file. Deployment for all commands is required no later than September 16th, and operations shall begin no later than September 19th. Briefing as follows. Elements of Boko Haram, having been substantially diminished within Burkina Faso due to the efforts of Task Force Cobra, have taken advantage of a military mutiny within the neighboring state of Mali and seized control of the city of Kidal. Current intel suggests they have brought with them the remnants of their chemical weapon stockpile, consisting of choking agents. Civilian presence in the city is high, but many are trying to flee the city using vehicles or on foot where parts of the city have become gridlocked. To further complicate matters, Boko Haram has set up checkpoints and IEDs throughout in an attempt to keep as many civilians locked within the city as possible. French forces maintain a presence in the country but with the mutiny of the Malian military, they have their hands full trying to keep security on their bases and attempting to regroup and reestablish order where possible. The Pentagon has determined that this situation will become extremely counterproductive to U.S. interests if it is allowed to continue. US forces will be operating out of the French-controlled FOB Boiteux on the south side of Kidal. Given the previous direct action experience with these particular cells and tactics of Boko Haram, Alpha Company, 3d MRB will immediately deploy to conduct operations against Boko Haram in Kidal, to be referred to as AO Serval, and open a path for French or Local forces to effectively retake the city. Support will be provided through Alpha Section, 160th SOAR, and Alpha Company, 4th Battalion, 1st SFG. Phantom teams are otherwise occupied at this time. Signed, Lieutenant Colonel C. Williams Commanding Joint Special Task Force Cobra ATTACHMENTS mali.jpg aoserval.jpg

Mutiny Strikes Malian Army ADA News - Sept. 10th, 2020 After three months of negotiations between the soldiers of the 56th Infantry Regiment and the government that failed to resolve the dispute over the unit being stood down due to budget cuts, the soldiers mutinied and have taken over their base in Sévaré. While the troops have not conducted any violent acts, Malian President Birama Kondo has declared that the mutiny is an act of open rebellion. In a statement to the Associated Press, Mr. Kondo said that the mutineers were “merely coup plotters who have yet to act against the capital.” He continued, stating that as a preemptive measure to prevent “further seditious acts”, all Malian military personnel in the Northern half of the country are being confined to barracks for the foreseeable future. Pictured: Malian President Kondo at a rally outside of the capital city of Bamako shortly after the mutiny. Some have questioned this decision while the region is facing sustained security threats from terrorist groups and unstable neighbors. A spokesperson for the Malian Army dismissed those claims, saying that the remaining Malian forces were more than capable of dealing with any additional threats while the crisis is resolved. By Nyota Uhura ADA News