US Official Discusses in Algeria Arms Proliferation in Sahel

United Nations Peacekeeping Forces hold patrols in Mali. (AFP)
United Nations Peacekeeping Forces hold patrols in Mali. (AFP)
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US Official Discusses in Algeria Arms Proliferation in Sahel

United Nations Peacekeeping Forces hold patrols in Mali. (AFP)
United Nations Peacekeeping Forces hold patrols in Mali. (AFP)

Bonnie Jenkins, the US undersecretary of state for arms control, would discuss with senior officials in Algeria security, counter-terrorism, and arms proliferation in Sahel and Libya.

Jenkins also has the Russian “Wagner” threats on her agenda. 

“Jenkins will meet with senior government officials to discuss issues of mutual concern, including efforts to deepen bilateral security cooperation to address shared regional security challenges,” read a statement by the Office of the US State Department Spokesman on Sunday.

“The Under Secretary will also meet with Ambassadors from like-minded diplomatic missions in Algiers to discuss regional security issues.”

This indicates that she would meet with ambassadors of Sahel countries, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania.

The visit comes amid ongoing Algerian-Moroccan tension and the presence of “Wagner” militias in some African countries, especially in Mali, which is concerning to Washington.

Observers expect that the US official would convey to the Algerian officials her government’s wish to cooperate in order to curb the infiltration of pro-Russia armed groups in the African continent.

Jenkins would meet with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, Army Chief of Staff Said Chengriha, and senior military officers.

The diplomatic visit of Jenkins comes one month after the visit of Michael Langley, commander of US Africa Command, and three months after the visit of Brett McGurk, the National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Yael Lempert, principal deputy assistant secretary, and Jeremy Brandt, the North Africa official in the US National Security Council.

Chengriha informed Langley on Feb. 8 that his country holds to impartiality and deals with several friendly countries to serve its interests.



Abbas Urges Hamas to Stop Giving Israel ‘Excuses’ in Gaza

A camp for internally displaced Palestinians, which was set up by the HHO Foundation in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
A camp for internally displaced Palestinians, which was set up by the HHO Foundation in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
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Abbas Urges Hamas to Stop Giving Israel ‘Excuses’ in Gaza

A camp for internally displaced Palestinians, which was set up by the HHO Foundation in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, 08 April 2025. (EPA)
A camp for internally displaced Palestinians, which was set up by the HHO Foundation in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, 08 April 2025. (EPA)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the Hamas group Tuesday to stop giving Israel "excuses" to keep up its devastating offensive in Gaza.

Israel resumed major strikes on the Gaza Strip on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Tuesday that 58 people had been killed in the previous 24 hours.

In a statement, the Ramallah-based Palestinian presidency called on Hamas to "cease making any irresponsible decisions to spare our people the consequences of (the Israeli) aggression".

The statement pointed to the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. "Stop giving the occupation any excuses to continue its genocide," it said.

It called on Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, to "adhere to the official Palestinian position and the Arab initiatives".

French President Emmanuel Macron met with King Abdullah II of Jordan and President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi of Egypt in Cairo Monday, where they called for Abbas's Palestinian Authority to rule Gaza after a ceasefire, and for Hamas to have no role in post-war governance.

The Palestinian Authority is dominated by Abbas's Fatah movement, Hamas's longtime rival.

At their Cairo meeting, the three leaders called for an "immediate return" to the two-month ceasefire that effectively ended in March.

In its statement, the Palestinian presidency also denounced a newly established Israeli corridor in south Gaza as a violation of international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the creation of the Morag axis between the south Gaza cities of Khan Younis and Rafah last week.

He presented the axis as a new Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the Palestinian side of the border with Egypt that the Israeli army has already cleared of buildings.

Witnesses told AFP Tuesday that Israeli forces were present on the axis, and had set up a surveillance crane equipped with a machine gun at one of its crossroads.