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January 1st – 31st 2023
Morocco
Israeli Ties Boosted: Morocco’s army said
on January 17th it had agreed with Israel
to strengthen military cooperation includ-
ing in intelligence and cybersecurity,
following defence meetings in Rabat.
The two countries “agreed to further
strengthen cooperation and expand it to
other areas, including in intelligence, air
defence and electronic warfare,” the Royal
Moroccan Armed Forces said in a
statement.
The announcement followed the first
meeting of the monitoring committee for
Moroccan-Israeli defence cooperation in
the Moroccan capital. The two-day meet-
ing examined military cooperation includ-
ing in the fields of “logistics, training and
the acquisition and modernisation of
equipment”.
The two countries formalised ties in 2020,
following similar agreements between
Israel and the United Arab Emirates and
Bahrain.
It followed the United States’ recognition
of Moroccan sovereignty over the dis-
puted Western Sahara region, in a quid
pro quo for re-establishing ties with Israel.
That sparked concern in neighbouring
Algeria, long-time backers of the Polisario
movement, which seeks an independence
referendum for Western Sahara.
In November 2021, Israel’s then defence
minister Benny Gantz signed a memoran-
dum of understanding in Rabat outlining
security relations with Morocco. (© AFP
17/1 2023)
Indian Acquisition: Morocco’s armed
forces have acquired 92 military vehicles
from India, domestic media outlets have
reported.
The LPTA 244 6x6 vehicles were manufac-
tured by India’s aerospace, military and
defence company, Tata Advanced Systems.
It said that the trucks would be “expected to
be used for loading, unloading and trans-
porting ammunition platforms, spare parts
and other operational equipment.” (Al-
Youm 24, Casablanca 5/1)
SOMALIA
US Support: The US announced on
January 8th that it’s giving $9m in new
military aid to help Somalia’s ongoing
campaign against al-Shabaab mili-
tants. It is the first such direct military
support since US forces returned to
Somalia and President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud announced an “all-out war”
against the militants.
According to a tweet from the US
embassy, the weapons and vehicles will
support the campaign by the Somali
National Army to liberate communities
from al-Shabaab control.
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© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Matt Bryden, a security expert and the
founder of Sahan Research, a think tank
covering the Horn of Africa, marked the
new contribution as an endorsement of
the efforts by the Mohamud administra-
tion to fight the militant group.
Somali forces have been engaged in an
offensive alongside local clan militias
against al-Shabaab since July. The pro-
government forces have captured many
villages and towns, mostly in Hirshabelle
state. However, the militants continue to
mount counterattacks against govern-
ment forces and civilian targets.
Abdiasis Isaack, a security expert with
the Hamad Bin Khalifa Civilization
Center, told VOA the new military
package would be critical for the Somali
army which has a limited arsenal. He
added that the main challenge facing the
Somali military was that it possessed
weapons of the same calibre as that of
al-Shabaab – making it difficult to win
the war against the group. (VOA 9/1)
Joint Drills with France, US: A maritime
self-defence force destroyer (MSDF) and
a French navy carrier strike group led by
its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Charles de Gaulle has conducted joint
drills in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia and
in the northern Arabian Sea, the Defence
Ministry announced on January 19th.
According to the ministry, the drills took
place from January 9th-14th with
MSDF destroyer Suzutsuki – which has
been deployed to the area for anti-piracy
operations – four French navy vessels
and a US navy vessel.
The drills’ purpose was to strengthen
cooperation between the MSDF and
French and US navies, and procedures
were confirmed for defending naval vessels
from attacks from the air. (Shabelle 19/1)
Death Sentence: A Somali soldier was
sentenced to death on January 15th for
killing a civilian after refusing to pay
him extortion, an army officer said.
Abukar Mohamed Nurani, a well-
known street vendor lost his life for
Somali Shillings 5,000 which is equiva-
lent to $0.25 after engaging in an
argument with the SNA soldier.
The military court announced the death
sentence against the soldier and said the
ruling would be carried out if the
defendant failed to appeal in 30 days.
(Shabelle 15/1)
SOUTH AFRICA
Naval Drills
Planned joint exercises with Russia and
China spark concerns.
South Africa, which has resisted taking
sides following Russia’s invasion of
Africa Research Bulletin – 23897
Ukraine, announced on January 19th it
will stage 10-day joint maritime drills
with Russia and China in February.
“As (a) means to strengthen the already
flourishing relations between South
Africa, Russia and China, a multina-
tional maritime exercise between these
three countries . . . will take place,” the
army said.
The exercises dubbed Mosi, which trans-
lates to “smoke” in the local Tswana
language, are scheduled for February
17th-27th, off the port city of Durban
and Richards Bay.
It will be the second such exercise
involving the three naval forces, the
South African National Defence Force
said. The first was held in November
2019 off Cape Town.
More than 350 South African army
personnel will take part “alongside the
Russian and Chinese counterparts, with
an aim of sharing operational skills and
knowledge”, the army said.
The main opposition Democratic Alli-
ance (DA) party blasted the “silly”
exercises being held at “an awkward
time in global geopolitical history due to
the Russian war in Ukraine”.
The joint manoeuvres prove that the
government is “biased”, said DA
shadow defence minister Kobus Marais.
He added that “it is obvious that the
value for Russia is to showcase its
geopolitical influence in southern Africa
as part of their global war games against
NATO and the USA”. (© AFP 19/1 2023)
Minister of International Relations
Naledi Pandor defended the move on
January 23rd as she welcomed her
counterpart Sergei Lavrov for talks in
Pretoria.
“All countries conduct military exercises
with friends,” Pandor told a press
conference after the talks.
She thanked Lavrov for the “most
wonderful meeting”, which she earlier
said would have helped “strengthen the
already good relations”, with what she
described as a “valued partner”.
Although resisting to take sides over the
war in Ukraine, the links with Moscow
have triggered criticism, with some
accusing the government of having
abandoned its neutral stance.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that
the South African government is openly
siding with Russia,” said Darren Berg-
man, a DA lawmaker.
“Friendly engagement” with Russia was
“not appropriate” unless aimed at per-
suading it to end its involvement in
Ukraine, he said.
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