Posts tonen met het label 2014. Alle posts tonen
Posts tonen met het label 2014. Alle posts tonen

dinsdag 21 april 2015

US Defense Contracts with Dutch participation (08/07/14-20/04/15)

Products bought by the Dutch state and with Dutch participation (work will be performed by).

No: 518-13, July 17, 2013 , NAVY,
Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $19,070,236 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-5403) for Standard Missile engineering and technical services for the U.S. Navy, other government agencies and foreign military sales.  This contract will provide engineering and technical services for Standard Missile 2, 3 and 6.  These services include research and development efforts; design, systems, and production engineering; technical services; evaluation services; component improvement services; and production proofing services for missile producibility, missile production, and shipboard integration for fiscal years 2013-2017.  This contract includes foreign military sales to Japan (28 percent), Australia (24 percent), Korea (21.5 percent), Germany (8.3 percent), Netherlands (8.3 percent), Taiwan (7 percent), Canada (1.7 percent), and Spain (1.2 percent).  Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (86.8 percent); Andover, Mass. (9.4 percent); Huntsville, Ala. (1.7 percent); Arlington, Va. (1.1 percent); Camden, Ark. (0.7 percent); and White Sands, N.M. (0.3 percent), and is expected to be completed by July 2014.  Fiscal 2013 research, development, test & evaluation, Department of Defense, foreign military sales, fiscal 2013 research, development, test & evaluation, Navy, fiscal 2012 other procurement, Navy funding in the amount of $18,474,253 will be obligated at the time of the award.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. 

No: CR-148-14, August 05, 2014, NAVY,
Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $43,991,627 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-12-C-2002) for the design, development, and engineering analysis of the AIM-9X Block II Missile System for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and the governments of Turkey, Oman, Belgium, Netherlands, Singapore, Malaysia, and Morocco. This modification includes the necessary replacements for the AIM-9X Control Actuation System, inertial measurement unit, electronics unit processor and improvements in insensitive munitions performance in the hardware development and Operational Flight Software versions 9.4X, 9.15X and 10.X. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (91.6 percent); Minneapolis, Minnesota (6.5 percent); Pinellas Park, Florida (1.3 percent); and Andover, Massachusetts (0.6 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2015. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy and Air Force) funds and Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $22,092,354, will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Air Force ($23,620,000; 53.7 percent); U.S. Navy ($8,155,233; 18.5 percent); and the governments of Turkey ($4,095,000; 9.3 percent); Oman ($2,590,000; 5.9 percent); Belgium ($2,100,000; 4.8 percent); Netherlands ($1,680,000; 3.8 percent); Singapore ($980,000; 2.2 percent); Malaysia ($701,394; 1.6 percent); and Morocco ($70,000; 0.2 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Act. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

No: CR-156-14 August 15, 2014, ARMY,
Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, Andover, Massachusetts was awarded a $109,078,477 firm-fixed-price level-of-effort foreign military sales (Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine) contract with options for engineering services for the Patriot System Tracking Radar. Work will be performed in Andover, Tewksbury, and Burlington, Massachusetts; El Segundo, California; El Paso, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; Pelham, New Hampshire; and White Sands, New Mexico, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2015. One bid was solicited and one received. Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance (Army) funds ($58,886), fiscal 2014 research, development, test, and evaluation funds ($5,287,374), and fiscal 2014 and 2010 other procurement funds ($76,462,599) are being obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-14-C-0093).

No: CR-227-14 November 26, 2014, NAVY, 
http://www.defense.gov/Contracts/Contract.aspx?ContractID=5426
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $64,283,943 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for the modification of 14 F-35A air vehicles for the U.S. Air Force (13) and the government of the Netherlands (1), and 13 F-35B air vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps (11) and the government of the United Kingdom (2). This contract includes procurement for 528 modification kits, installation, and labor. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (40 percent); Cherry Point, North Carolina (12 percent); San Diego, California (10 percent); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (7 percent); Ogden, Utah (6 percent); Nashua, New Hampshire (4 percent); Eglin, Florida (3 percent); Greenville, South Carolina (3 percent); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (3 percent); Edwards, California (2 percent); Marabar, Florida (2 percent); Tucson, Arizona (2 percent); Redondo Beach, California (2 percent); Orlando, Florida (2 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (1 percent); and Owego, New York (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2017. Fiscal 2013 aircraft procurement (Marine Corps and Air Force); 2015 research, development, test and evaluation (Marine Corps and Air Force), and international partner funds in the amount of $64,283,943 are being obligated on this award, $40,817,604 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Marine Corps ($30,784,983; 48 percent); U.S. Air Force ($25,077,651; 39 percent), and international partners ($8,421,309; 13 percent). This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting authority (N00019-15-C-0016).

No: CR-243-14, December 19, 2014, NAVY, 
http://www.defense.gov/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=5442
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded $8,644,374 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 2067 against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-11-G-0001) for follow-on integrated logistics support/engineering services for Harpoon /SLAM-ER Missile System and Harpoon Launch Systems for the U.S. Navy and various foreign military sales customers. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (91.84 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (5.47 percent); Yorktown, Virginia (2.64 percent); and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (.05 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2016. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Navy) and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $8,644,374 will be obligated at time of award; $2,310,523 of which expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($2,310,523; 26.74 percent); and the governments of Turkey ($807,597; 9.35 percent); Taiwan ($706,776; 8.17 percent); Korea ($528,318; 6.11 percent); Japan ($471,056; 5.45 percent); Egypt ($456,647; 5.28 percent); Saudi Arabia ($365,656; 4.23 percent); United Kingdom ($316,563; 3.66 percent); Pakistan ($304,113; 3.52 percent); Australia ($303,525; 3.51 percent); Chile ($237,601; 2.75 percent); Canada ($231,071; 2.67 percent); Singapore ($216,855; 2.51 percent); Israel ($197,868; 2.29 percent); Portugal ($189,145; 2.19 percent); India ($168,656; 1.95 percent); Thailand ($165,516; 1.91 percent); Bahrain ($129,570; 1.50 percent); Kuwait ($88,155; 1.02 percent); United Arab Emirates ($85,015; 0.98 percent); Malaysia ($84,819; 0.98 percent); Oman ($83,837; 0.97 percent); the Netherlands ($81,455; 0.94 percent); Germany ($65,164; 0.75 percent); and Denmark ($48,873; 0.57 percent) under the foreign military sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

No: CR-245-14, December 23, 2014, NAVY
Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $49,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-13-C-5410) to exercise options for the accomplishment of Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) design agent, in-service support and technical engineering support services.  The ESSM program is an international cooperative effort to design, develop, test, and procure ESSM missiles and related support and services. The ESSM provides enhanced ship defense.  Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (90.65 percent); Germany (2.55 percent); Norway (2.11 percent); Australia (1.53 percent); Netherlands (1.36 percent); Canada (0.68 percent); Spain (0.42 percent); Turkey (0.30 percent); Denmark (0.28 percent); and Greece (0.12 percent) and is expected to be completed by December 2015.  Fiscal 2015 weapons procurement (Navy); fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation; and fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $14,439,376 will be obligated at time of award and funds in the amount of $1,953,715 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

No: CR-248-14, December 30, 2014, AIR FORCE, 
http://www.defense.gov/Contracts/Contract.aspx?ContractID=5448
Boeing Aerospace Operations Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded an estimated $18,681,615 firm-fixed-price and time and materials modification (P00203) to contract FA8106-07-C-0001. Contractor will provide engineering services support including sustaining and non-recurring engineering services for Boeing commercial derivative military aircraft. Work will be performed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2015. This contract has a small portion of foreign military sales to the Netherlands. Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,209,260 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity.

No: CR-024-15, February 05, 2015, NAVY,
Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $9,603,500 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024 13 C-5403) for Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) and Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) engineering and technical services.  This contract will provide for engineering and technical services in support of SM-2 and SM-6 to ensure continuity in production, design integrity and total systems integration of the missile round and its components.  This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy (23 percent) and the governments of Japan (50.2 percent), Taiwan (14.8 percent), the Netherlands (4.3 percent), Korea (4.2 percent), Germany (2.9 percent) and Spain (.6 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program or cooperative agreements.  Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by December 2015.  FMS, fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation, fiscal 2014 weapons procurement (Navy) and Cooperative Agreements funding in the amount of $9,603,500 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity.

No: CR-051-15, March 19, 2015, ARMY,
Intuitive Research and Technology Corp.,* Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a $14,128,559 modification (000382) to Foreign Military Sales contract W31P4Q-07-A-0015 (Egypt, Korea, Chile, Finland, Netherlands, Oman, Qatar, United Kingdom, Norway) for labor and travel to support the Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office. Fiscal 2015 research, development, testing and evaluation, operations and maintenance (Army) and other procurement funds in the amount of $ $14,128,559 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Nov. 23, 2015. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

No: CR-061-15, April 02, 2015, NAVY,
Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $517,300,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) requirements. This contract will procure all necessary efforts to design, qualify and test ESSM Block 2 and prepare the program for a successful ‘Milestone C’ decision, currently planned in FY18. The ESSM Block 2 is an international cooperative effort to design, develop, test, and procure ESSM Block 2 missiles. ESSM Block 2 provides enhanced ship self-defense. This contract combines purchases for the Navy (40 percent) and the governments of Australia (16.51 percent), Canada (13.77 percent), Germany (6.44 percent), the Netherlands (5 percent), Denmark (4.56 percent), Norway (4.56 percent), Turkey (4.56 percent), Spain (2.5 percent), Greece (1.5 percent), and Portugal (.6 percent), as part of the NATO Seasparrow Consortium. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (67 percent); Norway (2 percent); McKinney, Texas (5 percent); Australia (3 percent); the Netherlands (3 percent); Canada (3 percent); Germany (3 percent); Turkey (2 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (2 percent); San Marco, California (1 percent); San Diego, California (1 percent); San Jose, California (1 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (1 percent); Canton, New York (1 percent); Greece (1 percent); Denmark (1 percent); and with 3 percent in various locations that each will perform less than 1 percent of the effort, and is expected to be completed by May 2019. Fiscal 2015 research, development, test and evaluation funs and foreign Military Sales contract funds in the amount of $26,000,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. Full and open competition need not be provided for when precluded by the terms of an international agreement or a treaty between the U.S. and a foreign government or international organization, or the written directions of a foreign government reimbursing the agency for the cost of the acquisition of the supplies or services for such government. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-15-C-5420).

dinsdag 31 maart 2015

Libya needs serious arms control

Last Friday, the UN Security Council decided to leave the arms embargo against Libya unchanged, and urged the government in Tripoli to improve the monitoring of its weapons. Libya and neighbouring Egypt had asked to lift restrictions on Libyan government arms imports 'so it could better fight extremists groups.'


Earlier this month the UN Panel of Expert on Libya stated in its annual report on 2014 that the country has “an open-ended conflict with no clear dominant military party.” In the aftermath of the NATO-backed war, militias flourished and weapons became freely available from within Libya or by procurement from outside. The chairman of the Dutch Parliamentary Comity for Defence, Han ten Broeke (VVD, Liberals) said to Stop Wapenhandel that unfortunately, after Khadaffi was killed, Libya started to proliferate weapons through the whole region, but “sometime you meet the Law of the Untended Consequences.” As if some consequences could not have been foreseen. In 2014 almost three thousand individuals were killed in the Libyan fightings and four hundred thousand were displaced, out of a population of six million. Unintended or not, the havoc in all surrounding countries - Mali as a point in a case, but also Syria -, is also enormous. This is in shrill contrast to the programs to halt arms transfers and trafficking by e.g. the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and among others the German Agency for International Cooperation.

The UN-report on Libya over 2014 is the fourth publication by the Panel of Experts: “Since the outbreak of the armed conflict in 2014, the demand for weapons and above all for ammunition, has soared and all parties to the conflict have been highly active in procuring military materiel. This has significantly increased the number of investigations conducted by the Panel” it states. Those investigations are not easy, because “while the panel is aware of pending transfers of material from several Member States, no such information was provided to the Committee [to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Bernardino León], making monitoring of deliveries of materiel very challenging.” The current Libyan acquisition budget is LYD 150 million (€ 104 million). For the next period 1 billion is expected (€ 696 million). Next year will be even more demanding.

The Panel is a body established by the UN and questions the Member States directly for information. But phrases like 'refusal to supply information' and 'no response has yet been received from the United States' etc. are many in the report. This is the case e.g. in connection to a cancelled, but partial delivered, order of Caracal F Pistols to the Libyan Ministry of Interior. An Hungarian bank, a US registered broker and a UAE arms producer were involved.

The scarce information which is coming forward makes the report however very valuable. In the Caracal pistol case the end-user certificate is annexed to the report to show the deal was real. In another case the use of confidential sources based at the port of Tobruk were mentioned. Those sources confirmed the offloading of military material including small arms and light weapons (SALW) from an Egyptian vessel.

It is remarkable that despite the ongoing conflict there is still space to export weapons. The Panel reports on weapons catched at the borders with Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Chad and Sudan. Chad is worried the weapons will end in the hands of Boko Haram. Arms traffickers in Chad sell Libyan anti-tank mines at 150 US$ a piece and SA-7 manpads (shoulder fired air missiles) for 10-12.000 US$.

Some cases are described in more detail in the report. One of them is a Italian arms transport just after the start of the Libyan revolution of 2011. Smuggled Warsaw Pact weapons were confiscated by Italy back in 1994, during the war in former Yugoslavia. The weapons were stored at the island Santo Stefano and not destroyed, despite a court ruling to that effect. In May 2011, four army trucks transported cargo from the army base at the island, but a juridical investigation into the final destination of these transports was blocked after army commanders invoked 'state security.' Rumours on arms deliveries to Libyan rebels during 2011 are still corroborated by the Panel.

Another case is the loss of 23 Oberland OA-15 assault rifles (made in Germany), 70 9mm Glock handguns (made in Austria) and more than 42,000 rounds of ammunition. The weapons were meant to protect the European Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM). In February 2014 Malta asked permission for the export and an end-user certificate had been signed by the EU-delegation to Libya. The 10th of March GardaWorld shipped the weapons to Tripoli International Airport. Upon arrival the Libyan customs said clearance documents were missing. EUBAM was informed about the arrival of the guns. But when GardaWorld personnel returned a week after with the requested documents, the weapons were gone. Libyan authorities did not bother for follow-up investigation.

Shipments of Milan anti-tank missiles from Libya to Syria were reported in previous reports. The missiles were produced by Airbus, but the company denied that it sold them to Libya. During the revolution of 2011 the Khadaffi regime accused Qatar of exporting the missiles to the rebels. In 2012 they were en route to Syria and found at the Letfallah II which was seized by the Lebanese authorities. “France did not disclose to which country the missiles had been originally exported” says the UN report. During the Airbus shareholder meeting Tom Enders, CEO of Airbus, was asked about it, but he responded it was the French government which had to answer. The Dutch government was never asked, because Airbus headquarters are in the Netherlands for tax evasion only, not for difficult questions on international relations.

Last year Qatar added a new chapter to its devastating policies in Libya. The emirate was accused of backing groups with weapons and funding while the heavy fighting of Operation Fajr was ongoing. When the UN Panel inquired about those strong allegations Qatar did not bother to respond. Nevertheless, Qatar still is a prominent client for Western arms.

What can be done to stop the Libyan arms market? The UN Panel has two recommendations to Member States. The first is to regulate brokering. The second is to inspect cargo to and from Libya. Life can be so easy. Another recommendation might be to cooperate when asked for information by the Panel. And to sanction those who don't, e.g. by refusing arms sales to those countries; a win-win opportunity. Another suggestion for recommendation: Pressure Member States of the EU to cooperate. One unnamed Member State called in the  for clear identification of the origins of arms flows and regretted the lack of cooperation from Member States in that regard. The Panel states itself in the report: “To date, despite the violations reported in the Panel’s three previous reports, no action has been taken against most of the violators. What is more, some have been involved in further violations.” There are many possibilities still to improve the situation. Lifting the embargo is not the way. Luckily that was not done.

Written for stopwapenhandel.org 
Dutch version Ravage-Webzine 

zaterdag 21 maart 2015

Libië verdient échte wapenbeheersing



Het jaarrapport over 2014 van de Veiligheidscommissie van de Verenigde Naties bevat uiteenlopende voorbeelden van wapenhandel met Libië, waar milities een machtsstrijd uitvoeren.

door Martin Broek

Libië is een land met een ‘conflict zonder zichtbaar einde en zonder duidelijke dominante militaire partij’, zo omschrijft het Panel van Deskundigen van de Veiligheidscommissie van de Verenigde Naties (VN) de huidige situatie in Libië in haar onlangs verschenen jaarrapport over 2014. In de nasleep van de door de NAVO gesteunde binnenlandse oorlog in 2011, waarbij Kaddafi werd verdreven, floreerden de milities en wapens werden toegankelijk vanuit de Libische arsenalen of door inkoop in het buitenland.

Elkaar bestrijdende milities op straat voeren een machtsstrijd uit tegen de regering, die in het najaar van 2013 na verkiezingen tot stand kwam. Vorig jaar kwamen daarbij zo’n 3.000 mensen om het leven en raakten 400.000 mensen dakloos. In februari vertelde de voorzitter van de Kamercommissie voor Defensie, Han ten Broeke, aan een medewerkster van de campagnegroep Stop Wapenhandel dat de wapenverspreiding in Libië weliswaar groot is maar dat je ‘soms tegen de Wet van de Onbedoelde Gevolgen oploopt.’

Ravage

Onbedoeld of niet, de ravage in de omringende landen – Mali bijvoorbeeld, maar ook in Tunesië en Syrië -, is enorm. Deze ellende staat in schril contrast met de programma’s om aan wapenbeheersing te doen. Het VN-jaarverslag over 2014 is het vierde van het Panel van Deskundigen: ‘Sinds het uitbreken van het gewapende conflict in 2014, is de vraag naar wapens en vooral voor munitie enorm gestegen en alle partijen in het conflict hebben zeer actief militair materieel aangeschaft. Daardoor is ook het aantal onderzoeken door het Panel toegenomen’, schrijft de commissie over Libië.

Die onderzoeken zijn niet eenvoudig uit te voeren, ook al omdat de medewerking nihil is. ‘Terwijl het Panel op de hoogte is van hangende orders vanuit verschillende lidstaten, wordt er geen informatie verstrekt aan de Commissie [van de speciale vertegenwoordiger van de secretaris-generaal, Bernardino León], waardoor monitoring van de leveringen van materieel zeer veel energie vergt’, aldus de Veiligheidscommissie. De huidige Libische materieelbegroting is LYD 150 miljoen (€ 104 miljoen). Voor de komende periode wordt een miljard verwacht (€ 696 miljoen), waardoor volgend jaar nog meer inspanningen worden gevraagd.

Het Panel is ingesteld door de VN en vraagt de lidstaten rechtstreeks om informatie. Maar zinsneden als ‘weigering om informatie te verstrekken’, ‘Een reactie is nog niet ontvangen van de Verenigde Staten’, etc. komen veel voor in het rapport. Bijvoorbeeld in het geval van een geannuleerde, maar gedeeltelijk geleverde bestelling van Caracal-F pistolen aan het Libische ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken. Hier waren verschillende partijen bij betrokken, zoals een Hongaarse bank, een in de VS geregistreerde tussenhandel in wapens en een wapenproducent uit de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten.

Ondanks die geringe medewerking is het rapport toch waardevol. In de kwestie van de Caracal-pistolen wordt wel het eindgebruikerscertificaat vermeld om de deal zichtbaar te maken. In een ander geval wordt vermeld dat er gebruik is gemaakt van vertrouwelijke bronnen actief in de haven van Tobruk. Die bronnen konden het lossen van van een Egyptisch schip met militair materieel, inclusief kleine en lichte wapens (SALW), bevestigen.



Wapenvangsten

Het is opmerkelijk dat, ondank het binnenlandse conflict in Libië, er nog steeds wapens zijn om te exporteren. Het rapport beschrijft wapenvangsten aan de grenzen met Egypte, Algerije, Tunesië, Niger Tsjaad en Sudan. Tsjaad is bang dat de wapens zullen eindigen in de handen van terreurgroep Boko Haram. Wapensmokkelaars in Tsjaad verkochten Libische anti-tank mijnen voor 150 dollar per stuk en SA-7 MANPADS (schouder afgevuurd lucht raketten) voor zo’n 10 à 12.000 dollar.

Sommige gevallen zijn gedetailleerder beschreven. Een daarvan betreft een transport van Italiaanse wapens net na aanvang van de Libische revolutie in 2011. Gesmokkelde Warschaupact wapens werden al in 1994 door Italië in beslag genomen. Dat was tijdens de oorlog in voormalig Joegoslavië. De wapens werden opgeslagen op het eiland Santo Stefano en werden niet vernietigd zoals de rechter verordonneerde.

In mei 2011 vervoerden vier legertrucks een lading afkomstig van de legerbasis op Santo Stefano. Naar welke bestemming en waarvoor wordt nog gegist, want een juridisch onderzoek naar dit transport werd na ingrijpen door hoge militairen geblokkeerd op grond van de 'staatsveiligheid'. Het Panel zoekt nog naar bevestiging van geruchten dat deze wapens in de loop van 2011 zijn geleverd aan Libische rebellen.

Een ander geval betreft het verlies van 23 Oberland OA-15 geweren (een Duits product), 70 9mm Glock pistolen (uit Oostenrijk) en meer dan 42.000 stuks munitie. De wapens waren bedoeld om de missie van de Europese Unie voor bijstandsverlening inzake grensbeheer (EUBAM) te beschermen. In februari 2014 vroeg Malta toestemming voor de export waarna een eindgebruikerscertificaat door de EU-delegatie in Libië werd ondertekend.

Op 10 maart verscheepte GardaWorld de wapens naar de internationale luchthaven van Tripoli. Bij aankomst zei de Libische douane dat de inklaringsdocumenten ontbraken. EUBAM werd nog geïnformeerd over de aankomst van de wapens, maar toen GardaWorld-personeel een week later terugkwam met de gevraagde documenten waren de wapens verdwenen. Libische autoriteiten hebben daar verder geen onderzoek naar gedaan.


Foto: Letfallah II

Anti-tank raketten

De verscheping van Milan anti-tank raketten vanuit Libië naar Syrië werd beschreven in vorige jaarrapporten van de Veiligheidscommissie. De raketten worden geproduceerd door Airbus, maar het bedrijf ontkent dat het ze aan Libië heeft verkocht. Tijdens de revolutie van 2011 beschuldigdehet Kadaffi-regime Qatar van het leveren van de raketten aan de rebellen. In 2012 waren ze op weg naar Syrië na te zijn aangetroffen op het vrachtschip Letfallah II. De lading werd in beslag genomen door de Libanese autoriteiten.

‘Frankrijk heeft niet bekend gemaakt naar welk land de raketten werden uitgevoerd’, aldus het Panel. Tom Enders, algemeen directeur van Airbus, laat weten dat het aan de Franse regering is om de vraag te beantwoorden waar de lading met Milan anti-tank raketten is afgeleverd. Den Haag werd nooit iets gevraagd, omdat Airbus daar slechts zijn hoofdkantoor heeft gevestigd vanwege belastingontwijking.

Vorig jaar heeft Qatar een nieuw hoofdstuk toegevoegd aan haar verwoestende beleid in de regio. Het emiraat steunde Libische milities met wapens en financiering in de zomer van 2014, terwijl gevechtsoperatie Fajr gaande is die de hele situatie verder verslechtert. Als het Panel op grond van stevige aanwijzingen navraag doet, reageert de overheid in Qatar niet. Qatar blijft evenwel een belangrijke klant voor westerse wapens.

Wat te doen met de situatie in Libië? Het Panel heeft twee aanbevelingen voor de lidstaten: Reguleer tussenhandel en inspecteer al het vrachtvervoer van en naar Libië. Werk mee als de VN-Veiligheidscommissie om informatie vraagt, kan aan dit simpele lijstje met aanbevelingen worden toegevoegd. Evenals het bestraffen van hen die in gebreke blijven. Dat kan bijvoorbeeld door te weigeren wapens aan die landen te verkopen, een win-win sanctie.

Tenslotte zou Nederland druk uit kunnen oefenen op de lidstaten van de EU om voortaan mee te werken aan onderzoeken door het Panel. Een niet bij naam genoemd lidstaat pleitte in de vergadering van de Veiligheidsraad van 15 september 2014 voor duidelijkheid rond de oorsprong van wapenstromen en betreurde het gebrek aan medewerking van de lidstaten in dat opzicht. Het Panel stelt in het rapport: ‘Tot op heden zijn, ondanks de schendingen gemeld in het Panel drie eerdere rapporten, geen maatregelen zijn genomen tegen de meeste overtreders. Het is is zelfs zo, dat sommigen op nieuw de fout zijn ingegaan.’

Geschreven voor Ravage-Webzine 
English version soon at stopwapenhandel.org

dinsdag 21 januari 2014

Flintlock 2014


Flintlock is an annual counter operation and exercise organised by Africom in Northwest Africa with Dutch participation. This blog serves as a collection of media reports writing about Flintlock. (The name comes from a firearm-ignition mechanism). GlobalSecurity on the history of Flintlock. and Facebook. See Also: Flintlock 2013 (untill 14 Nov 2013)

Perconferentie Niger voor Flintlock 2014, http://lesahel.org/
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June 1
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Will Hartley, Together: Multilateral counter-terrorism exercises, Jane's Intelligence Review, June 2014, pp 14-17.
Multilateral exercises involving Western militaries and those from developing countries in Asia and Africa have increased in the last two decades. Hartley examines how these help respond to ‘new’ security threats, particularly terrorism.

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16 May
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Joeva Rock, OP-ED: MilitarisedHumanitarianism in Africa, May 16 2014 (IPS)
(...) Rather than the “shock and awe” of Iraq, the military has attempted to put a friendly face on its expedition to Africa. This past March, writing in the New York Times, Eric Schmitt marveled at AFRICOM’s Operation Flintlock, a multinational and multiagency training operation in Niger.
Schmitt wrote glowingly about fighting terrorism with mosquito nets: “Instead of launching American airstrikes or commando raids on militants,” he wrote, “the latest joint mission between the nations involves something else entirely: American boxes of donated vitamins, prenatal medicines, and mosquito netting to combat malaria.”
Humanitarian and development missions like the ones outlined in Schmitt’s article are at the forefront of AFRICOM’s public relations campaign. But promoting AFRICOM as a humanitarian outfit is misleading at best.
To put it simply, these projects are more like a Trojan Horse: dressed up as gifts, they establish points of entry on the continent when and where they may be needed.(...)

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19 March
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(...) Coordination between authorities in Niger and Nigeria, meanwhile, has been hampered by poor communication. With cellphone networks unreliable, officials were forced to communicate by letters that can take three days to get between Niger and Maiduguri, according to a confidential 'early warning report' obtained by Reuters.
The document, compiled by officials from the United Nations and West African bloc ECOWAS who visited Diffa late last year, warned that Boko Haram's presence was "a serious threat that will require increased attention".
Some Western nations seem to agree. It was no coincidence that Diffa was chosen this year to host an annual U.S.-sponsored military exercise, Flintlock - though concerns over security prompted foreign troops to restrict their movements.(...)

David Lewis, INSIGHT-Niger fears contagion from Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists, Reuters, March 19, 2014

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14 March
***

With training and partnerships, US military treads lightly in Africa, The Peninsula, March 14, 2014

By David Lewis On a dusty training ground in Niger, US Special Forces teach local troops to deal with suspects who resist arrest. "Speed, aggression, surprise!" an instructor barks as two Nigeriens wrestle a US adviser out of a car.
The drill in the border town of Diffa is part of Exercise Flintlock, a counter-terrorism exercise for nations on the Sahara's southern flanks that the United States organises each year. Washington's aim is to tackle Islamist militants in the Sahel region while keeping its military presence in Africa light.
A growing number of European nations taking part shows their increasing concern about security in West Africa. Central to the international effort is a blossoming relationship between the United States and France, the former colonial power and traditional "policeman" of the turbulent region.
When Paris deployed 4,000 troops to fight Islamist militants in neighbouring Mali last year, the US military lent a hand by airlifting French soldiers and equipment, providing intelligence and training African forces to join the operation.
French troops are stretched by hunting the militants in Mali and tackling religious violence in Central African Republic, so only a handful participated in Flintlock. Nevertheless, they welcomed their new partnership with Washington.
"The Americans want to get involved in Africa. That's good for us. We know that with the Americans it will be more efficient," said a French Special Forces officer, who asked not to be named. "We use American logistics - that's what we are missing. On the other hand, we provide the local knowledge." The United States fast-tracked the sale of 12 Reaper drones to France last year, the first two of which started operating in Niger in January alongside US drones already there.
In a reminder of the partnership, a drone quietly taxied past troops and dignitaries at Flintlock's closing ceremony in the capital of Niamey before taking off to scour the Sahara.
Military experts say direct US military action in Africa is limited to short raids on "high-value" targets in places such as Somalia and Libya, while French troops take on longer, bigger operations.
J Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center at the US-based Atlantic Council, said this arrangement suited US military planners who face budget cuts and a diminished American appetite for combat after conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, he warned that the French military was at the limit of its ability to strike militants hard. "If the French are not able to provide that blunt instrument, is the US willing to do so?" Nine years after the Flintlock exercises began, the enemy has evolved from a group of Algerian-dominated fighters focused on northern Mali and now threatens nations across the Sahara and the arid Sahel belt to the south.
For most of 2012, militants occupied northern Mali, a desert zone the size of France. Scattered by a French offensive last year, many are believed to be regrouping in southern Libya.
Hundreds of people are being killed every month in clashes with Boko Haram militants in northern Nigeria. Many in Niger fear this conflict could spill over the border and the government in Niamey has appealed for more military support.
"Instability in neighbouring states has given everybody a new incentive," General James Linder, commander of US Special Operations Command Africa, told Reuters while visiting Niger This year's three-week Flintlock exercise - involving over 1,000 troops from 18 nations - was the biggest yet and runs alongside more permanent training by US Special Forces in Niger, Mauritania, Senegal and Chad.
Training in Diffa, only a few kilometres from where Boko Haram militants are fighting the Nigerian army across the border, ranged from basic patrolling skills and setting up checkpoints to sharing intelligence and providing medical care.
In a region where armies often lack basics such as ammunition for target practice and fuel for vehicles, the quality and tempo of the US-sponsored exercise eclipses the training most soldiers in the region receive in a year.
Colonel Mounkaila Sofiani, the local Niger commander, said Flintlock and other US initiatives helped his country to tackle threats from the west, north and south better. "Little by little people are being trained," he said. "Once there are enough, they'll form the spine of a reliable force." Training is meant to build up coordination between armies but Sofiani said just finding radio equipment compatible between nations is difficult. In the field, officers exchange mobile phone numbers to bypass blockages in official channels.
A lack of trust between governments also hinders responses. At a recent meeting of intelligence chiefs, the Nigerien and Libyan representatives argued over the risk of instability spreading from Libya's lawless south, a diplomat told Reuters.
Coups in Mauritania, Niger and Mali since the Flintlock exercises began also halted cooperation until civilian rule was restored. Mali's 2012 coup, led by a captain with US training, opened the door to the Islamist takeover of the north, prompting questions about what the years of exercises had achieved.
Pham said better military capabilities had not been matched by improvements in governance, citing a failure by Mali to tackle corruption. REUTERS Chad's military, however, has won praise for leading the charge alongside French troops in flushing out the militants from Mali's desolate northern mountains. U.S. officials stress the exercise is African-led and are wary about people reading too much into U.S. troops being on the ground near African conflicts. But the show of foreign support is popular in Diffa. "It sends a message to Boko Haram and others," said Inoussa Saouna, the central government's representative in Diffa. "Before Mali, we thought terrorism was a problem for whites but now we've experienced it ourselves."
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11 March
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(...)
"The problems of the Sahel are not restricted to Africa, but concern the whole world," France's defence and national security chief Francis Delon said. Mauritanian analyst Abu Bakr noted, however, that it was difficult for Sahel countries "to cope with security risks individually".
One solution is through enhanced security partnerships, he suggested.
"Because they are sponsored by the armies of the biggest countries in the world," joint military exercises such as Flintlock "enhance the capabilities of Sahel defence forces and support them against any potential terrorist threat", he added.
North Africa; Maghreb Jihadists Killed in Mali Airstrike, Magharebia (Washington DC), March 11, 2014 




AFRICOM GO HOME, Bases étrangères hors d’Afrique est un film document dans le cadre du cinquantenaire des «indépendances» africaines, (OUA 1963 -2013). - See more at: http://www.afrokanlife.com/politique/africom-go-home-un-documentaire-du-professeur-aziz-fall/#sthash.GNusKD90.dpuf
AFRICOM GO HOME, Bases étrangères hors d’Afrique est un film document dans le cadre du cinquantenaire des «indépendances» africaines, (OUA 1963 -2013). - See more at: http://www.afrokanlife.com/politique/africom-go-home-un-documentaire-du-professeur-aziz-fall/#sthash.GNusKD90.dpuf
AFRICOM GO HOME, Bases étrangères hors d’Afrique est un film document dans le cadre du cinquantenaire des «indépendances» africaines, (OUA 1963 -2013). - See more at: http://www.afrokanlife.com/politique/africom-go-home-un-documentaire-du-professeur-aziz-fall/#sthash.aaJLS3qK.dpuf

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6 March
***

(…) The American strategy in Africa also hinges on European partners. In January, France began to reorganize its 3,000 troops in the Sahel region - a vast area on the southern flank of the Sahara that stretches from Senegal to Chad - to carry out counterterrorism operations more effectively, officials said. France will concentrate its air power in Chad, its new reconnaissance drones in Niger, its special operations troops in Burkina Faso and its logistics hub in Ivory Coast.

Against this backdrop, the United States Africa Command is running an annual exercise conducted since 2005 called Flintlock. This year, about 600 African troops and 500 Western trainers and support personnel, including about 300 Americans, participated here and in two cities in central Niger, Agadez and Tahoua.

In temperatures often soaring above 100 degrees, African troops in groups of up to 40 teamed up with advisers from the United States or European allies like Italy, France, Britain and Norway. They practiced marksmanship, patrolling harsh desert terrain and conducting checkpoints against suspicious vehicles.

The daily training has also revealed barriers that extremists could exploit.
Simple communications are often challenging. A Norwegian trainer's explanation of patrolling tactics in English had to be translated into French and then again by another interpreter into Hausa, a language spoken by many of Niger's troops. Any questions started the time-consuming linguistic chain in reverse.

In his office near the exercise, Col. Mounkaila Sofiani, the regional commander of Niger's forces here, who has trained in Morocco and Senegal, and at Fort Benning, Ga., acknowledged the threat from Boko Haram, but insisted his military did not need a permanent American troop presence.
''If our troops are well trained,'' he said, ''we can handle these situations ourselves.''


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4 March
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3 March
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By Maj. Will Cambardella
Joint Special Operations Task Force-Trans Sahara Command Public Affairs
AGADEZ, Niger - Canadian Special Operations Regiment shows Sergeant Sawani Anza Adamou, 22nd Battalion, how an inclinometer is used to determine wind speeds during air resupply drop operation in Niger as part of Exercise FLINTLOCK 2014. 

African-led Exercise Flintlock Kicks off in Niger 

AGADEZ, Niger , Mar 3, 2014 — The Niger Army’s 22nd Battalion trained with American, Canadian and Spanish troops supporting Flintlock 2014 on necessary learning objectives for a successful airborne supply delivery here, Feb. 21.

The Niger Armed Forces, otherwise known as the Forces Armées Nigeriennes, or FAN, are receiving instruction via “train-the-trainer” techniques to be able to teach other troops following the three-week exercise. The intent of this training is to enable the Nigerien Forces to resupply themselves, said one Canadian Joint Terminal Attack Controller. “Force projecting allows them to forward-stage in order to interdict AQIM [Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] movement.”

Morning training commenced with an overview block of instruction in French on Landing Zone and Drop Zone (DZ) markings, as well as terrain feature recognition. Next, the follow-on instructor disseminated inclinometers to the troops, encouraging the students to demonstrate they understood the equipment well enough to instruct it to others, specifically in orientation and cardinal direction.

The 22nd Battalion’s Sgt. Chef Boubacan Tinga provided DZ formulas during the class, “The drop zone needs to be at least 500 meters in length,” explained Sgt. Chef Tinga. Tinga further illustrated the difference in multiplication tables for paratroopers versus bundles.

The Spanish instructors provided a block of instruction on infiltration/exfiltration techniques to include safety, security, staging and appropriate communication during day and night operations. Special Air Force Operator, 1st Lt. Alfonso provided instruction on using a signal mirror during the day to reflect light and placement of vehicles at night to harness light from headlights. He also emphasized the importance of determining wind speed, strain and direction. 

“Always tell the pilot where the wind is coming from,” said Alfonso. “The more powerful, the more the pilot needs the wind direction—every helo lands facing the wind.”

The troops then proceeded to set up the DZ at the point of impact with red marking panels. Then a C-130 crew air dropped a bundle on flat hard terrain—as instructed.

“This is good training for these guys,” said the Air Liaison Officer, Lt. Col Chris . “They now have a new capability in their toolkit that will help them help themselves in the future.”

The Flintlock exercise is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff directed, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) sponsored, Joint Special Operations Task Force-Trans Sahara conducted Special Operations Forces (SOF) exercise, beginning Feb. 19 and going through March 9, throughout several locations in Niger.

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1 March
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Militaires marocains et algériens côte à côte au Niger

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Fort de ses succès diplomatiques au Mali, le Maroc passe au niveau supérieur. Le royaume cherche à jouer un rôle dans la sécurisation de la région du Sahel. La participation aux manœuvres militaires de « Flintlock 2014 », qui se déroulent au Niger, sous commandement américain, constitue d'ailleurs, un premier pas. Les Algériens y sont également présents.

Le Maroc tient à renforcer sa présence au Sahel. Du 26 février jusqu’au 9 mars, des membres des Forces armées royales (FAR) participent à la 9ème édition des « Flintlock ». Ce sont des exercices militaires, organisées au Niger par l’Africom, qui connaissent la participation d’environ un millier de soldats en provenance de vingt pays africains, européens et américains (Canada et Etats-Unis).

De la diplomatie à l’action militaire

Le royaume prend part à ces manœuvres en sa qualité de membre à part entière alors que durant les opérations qui se sont déroulés en 2013 dans le territoire mauritanien, il avait le titre de pays observateur. Une « promotion » qui atteste, si besoin est, du succès de la nouvelle politique du Maroc dans le Sahel.
Une région est devenue hautement stratégique pour Rabat. La crise malienne a offert aux officiels marocains une réelle opportunité de revenir en Afrique. Depuis, ils n’ont cessé de gagner du terrain. Le « Flintlock 2014 » leur permet donc de passer de la diplomatie et la logistique à l’action militaire.

Marocains et Algériens côte à côte au Niger

L’objectif principal de ces opérations demeure l’amélioration des capacités des militaires dans leur lutte contre les groupes terroristes et le crime organisé, bien établis dans toute la région sahélienne.
Le « Flintlock » de cette année a permis aux militaires marocains de côtoyer leurs homologues algériens sur le même terrain de guerre mais sous commandement américain. Sachant que les deux pays sont en concurrence déclarée pour asseoir leurs influences au Sahel.
Ce n’est d’ailleurs pas la première fois que des militaires des deux Etats voisins participent à des exercices sous commandement américaine ou de l’Alliance atlantique (OTAN). A titre d’exemple, le Maroc et l’Algérie répondent toujours présents aux manœuvres navales « Phoenix express », organisées depuis huit ans par la marine US, dans les eaux de la Méditerranée.

yabiladi

Exercices "Flintlock 2014"Sam 1 Mar 2014 – 15:34, http://far-maroc.forumpro.fr/t3819-exercices-flintlock-2014



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28 Feb
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Militairen oefenen in Afrikaans klimaat

Zo’n 45 man Special Forces van het Korps Commandotroepen en het Korps Mariniers zijn in Afrika voor de Amerikaanse oefening Flintlock 2014. De militairen trainen samen met eenheden uit Senegal en Burkina Faso en met Amerikaanse en Europese collega’s. Kennis verkrijgen van en ervaring opdoen met opereren in het Afrikaanse klimaat en terrein staan centraal.

Aan de oefening doen bijna duizend militairen uit veertien landen mee. Met de Afrikaanse partners oefenen de Nederlanders allerlei militaire vaardigheden, zoals patrouilleren, verkennen, navigeren en het inrichten van controleposten. Nederland doet voor de zevende keer mee aan Flintlock. De oefening duurt tot 9 maart.
http://magazines.defensie.nl/defensiekrant/2014/04/kort

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24 Feb.
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During the ceremony the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Trans Sahel Commander Col. Kenneth Sipperly, who is the Flintlock 2014 exercise coordinator, said, “Although Flintlock is considered an exercise, it is really an extension of ongoing training, engagement, and operations that help prepare our close Africa partners in the fight against extremism and the enemies that threaten peace, stability, and regional security.”

NIAMEY, Niger, Feb 24, 2014 — Flintlock, the annual African-led military exercise for interoperability in security, counterterrorism and humanitarian aid, officially kicked off today with an opening ceremony celebrating the spirit of cooperation.
The exercise, which beyond U.S. participation includes Burkina Faso, Canada, Chad, France, Germany, Mauritania, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Senegal, United Kingdom, and the host nation of Niger, focuses on building partner capacity to help strengthen stability across Africa. This year, there are 18 different African and Western country participants.
For the next three weeks, more than a 1,000 different soldiers from across these countries will practice military drills such as airdrops of personnel or equipment, live fire ranges, and delivering aid to remote areas with limited medical care.
While not focused on any particular operation or security situation, Flintlock 2014 focuses on the development of the mutual security capacity while strengthening bonds among exercise participants, according to officials.
“Your presence reflects your interests in our regional partnerships,” said Nigerian Col. Mahamane Laminou Sani, the Flintlock country coordinator. “By sharing their experiences, expertise, and camaraderie we share our interests in promoting stability in the region.”
Some of the major tactical components of Flintlock 2014 include small-unit combined training activities against counter-terrorism, along with humanitarian relief operations providing basic medical, dental, and veterinary access for select communities in Niger.
The host nation led the development of the exercises’ training objectives to help build relationships between participating nations.
U.S. leadership attended the ceremony along with their counterparts and they said they agree that security is necessary for growth and stability. Special Operations Command Africa Commanding General Brig. Gen. James Linder joined African nation partners for opening ceremony activities.
During the ceremony the Joint Special Operations Task Force – Trans Sahel Commander Col. Kenneth Sipperly, who is the Flintlock 2014 exercise coordinator, said, “Although Flintlock is considered an exercise, it is really an extension of ongoing training, engagement, and operations that help prepare our close Africa partners in the fight against extremism and the enemies that threaten peace, stability, and regional security.”
“Working together to guard against the effects of extremism will be realized by the future generations of all our countries,” he said.
The Nigerian Chief of Staff M. Karidio Mahamadou agreed, adding that, “This exercise is occurring at a time when our nations are faced with multiple obstacles within our region which requires strong resolve to confront extremism.”
Flintlock exercises have been conducted across north and western Africa since 2005 to improve the security capacity of regional military forces.

Follow and share your comments on Facebook and Twitter at #Flintlock2014
Scott Nielsen, African-led Exercise Flintlock Kicks off in Niger, U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs February 24, 2014.

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23 Feb.
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Up to 1,000 soldiers and army officials from 18 African countries began a joint military training exercise in Niger against terrorism in the Sahel region.
The joint military exercise dubbed "Flintlock" is being conducted in Niger's Agadez, Diffa and Tahoua regions between Feb. 20 and March 9.
The "Flintlock" exercise was initiated in 2005 with the objective of developing capacities of defense and security forces and promoting inter-state collaborations to protect the people of Sahel countries.
At the opening of the training session, Nigerien army chief Seini Garba hailed the holding of the Flintlock training to promote security in the Sahel region, a belt along the southern edge of the Sahara desert being made a haven for terrorism and cross-border crimes.
Gen. Garba said Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou had reaffirmed his support for the program to promote strategic partnerships and information sharing among the different armies.
The "Flintlock 2014" training program is being coordinated by the U.S. military and Nigerien Col. Lamine Mahamane.
The military training began just after the third council meeting of foreign ministers held in Niamey to discuss cooperation in war against terrorism and an African Peace and Security Architecture in the Sahel-Saharan region.
18 Nations In Joint Anti-Terrorism Exercise, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Beijing), February 23, 2014

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20 Feb.
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The war game reflects the Pentagon’s increasing preference for light, secretive Special Operations Forces in the ongoing international campaign against terrorists and other “irregular” threats.
Joe Trevithick, America Is in Niger to Help Train Commandos From 18 Countries
Flintlock exercise is evidence of growing Special Ops war in Africa, War is Boring, February 20, 2014.

--

Foreign ministers from the Sahel and West Africa met in Niamey on Wednesday (February 19th) to hammer out a response to terrorism and organised crime across the region.
The gathering included top diplomats from Algeria, Mauritania, Libya and others in the Fusion and Liaison Unit (UFL), who met with their counterparts from Senegal, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire.
The ministers discussed the political and security situation in the Sahel-Sahara region, closer security co-operation and the implementation of the African Peace and Security architecture. They were joined by intelligence and security chiefs from their respective countries and representatives of the African Union and ECOWAS.
"The recent events in Gao in Mali involving the kidnapping of an ICRC team, for which MUJAO has claimed responsibility, clearly show how fragile the security situation in our region is and illustrate the urgent need for closer co-operation between the relevant actors," Nigerien Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum said in his opening speech.
Bazoum added: "Niger is suffering the collateral fallout of the Libyan and Malian crises, and at a very early stage it began seeking ways of safeguarding its extra-community borders through a partnership guaranteeing human rights and the free movement of people."
In his view, "the political and security situation in Libya is still characterised by rather worrying tensions. We must think about it so that we can help to start a new trend."
During a speech about the counter-terrorism strategy devised by his institution, ECOWAS Commission Chairman Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo underlined that: "This strategy is based on three main pillars, namely prevention, suppression and rebuilding."
"There is no doubt that if they are well co-ordinated, the strategies initiated by various organisations should make a significant contribution to socio-economic development and stability in the Sahel region, in accordance with the principles of democracy, good governance and the rule of law, so as to prevent new crises in the future," he said.
For his part, Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra highlighted the close co-ordination between his country and Niger.
"We also know the determination of Niger, which is shared with Algeria, with regard to everything that concerns the battle against terrorism and organised cross-border crime," Lamamra told the press on the side-lines of this third ministerial meeting of the member states of the African Union's "Nouakchott Process" to build Sahel stability.
He also said that the contributions made by Algeria and Mauritania "consisted of making their own borders secure and ensuring that terrorist and criminal groups have nowhere to retreat to within the two countries".
"In the face of the threat on our borders, the Nouakchott Process must maintain a more sustained pace and innovate continually to adapt to the changes on the ground," said Smail Chergui, the African Union's commissioner for peace and security.
Chergui added: "Building intelligence and security capabilities in the Sahel-Sahara region is more than necessary to deal with the terrorist threat. This means that the strategies identified must be strengthened to tackle this scourge." 
Niger Hosts Sahel Security Summit, Magharebia (Washington DC), February 20, 2014

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19 Feb.
***

Zo’n 45 militairen van het Korps Commandotroepen en de special forces (NLMARSOF) van het Korps Mariniers zijn in Afrika voor de Amerikaanse oefening Flintlock 2014. De militairen trainen samen met Afrikaanse eenheden uit Senegal en Burkina Faso en met Amerikaanse en Europese collega’s. Het opdoen van kennis van en ervaring met het optreden in het Afrikaanse klimaat en terrein staan centraal.     
Aan de oefening doen bijna 1000 militairen uit zo’n 14 verschillende landen mee. Met de Afrikaanse partners wordt geoefend in militaire vaardigheden zoals patrouilleren, verkennen, navigeren en het inrichten van controleposten. Nederland doet voor de zevende keer mee aan Flintlock.
De luchtmacht zet een Hercules C-130 transportvliegtuig in voor de logistieke ondersteuning van de oefening. De oefening Flintlock duurt tot 9 maart.
Militairen oefenen in Afrikaans klimaat, Nieuwsbericht, 19 februari 2014

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6 Feb.
***

Mi-février, un nouveau détachement de forces spéciales américaines et françaises est attendu au Niger. Officiellement pour participer à l'exercice Flint Lock 2014. Exercice régional qui s'est déjà déroulé par le passé au Mali et en Mauritanie.

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22 Jan.
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No new information

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20 Jan.
***

L’édition de cette année [de Flintlock] intervient dans un contexte marqué par l’escalade de la violence en Libye, où des groupes extrémistes liés à Al-Qaïda, tels que ceux d’Ansar al-Sharia, se sont implantés dans plusieurs villes de l’est. La zone est d’ailleurs régulièrement survolée par des drones dont la mission se charge de la collecte d’informations.
Sahel : Démarrage en février des exercices « Flintlock, 20 janvier 2014 par Samuel Benshimon, Sahel Intelligence.

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17 Jan.
***

Military service members from African, European and North American countries will gather in Niger next month for the "Flintlock" exercise.
The two-week drill, which focuses on Africa's fight against terrorism and trafficking, includes air and land operations.
Held every year n nations across the Sahel region, the exercises are planned by US Special Operations to develop the capacity and collaboration among African security forces to protect civilian populations.
Jemal Oumar in Nouakchott, Sahel military forces train together, Magharebia – 17/01/2014

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3 Jan.
***


Similarly aspects of Operation Enduring Freedom Trans-Sahara (OEFTS) such as the Flintlock system have worked to shore up essential communication and infrastructure within 25 countries. Given that AFRICOM was first proposed as an idea in 2000, this is a remarkable degree of growth and cooperation that reflects the growing level of importance with which Africa now factors into US policymakers’ decisions.
Sean Durns, Growing US securitypresence in Africa allows safer investments, http://globalriskinsights.com/, January 3, 2014





Previous Flintlock blogs on Broekstukken:
military-exercises-and-arms (21 mar 2014)

Flintlock in the press 2013
The Dutch and the War on Terror … in Africa  (11 Feb 2011)
Nederlanders in War on Terror….in Afrika (03 Feb 2011)

Previous Mali blogs on Broekstukken:
Mali in de pers (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr 2014)
Wapenleveranties aan Libië en de buurlanden (07 Sep 2012)