DefenceTalkThe head of Algeria’s army hosted Russia’s top security official on Monday to discuss boosting their military ties, the defence ministry in Algiers said. General Said Chengriha said the visit of National Security Council secretary Nikolai Patrushev reflected both countries’ “firm desire to strengthen their historic and strategic partnership… in particular in the area of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/algeria-and-russia-aim-to-boost-military-ties-79909/

DefenceTalkPresident Joe Biden’s administration on Wednesday approved most military aid to Egypt for a second straight year despite concerns on human rights, pointing to limited progress, officials said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken finalized a package of $1.17 billion for Egypt, which has been one of the largest recipients of US assistance since it became […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-again-approves-most-aid-to-egypt-despite-rights-concerns-79412/

DefenceTalkEthiopia’s northern region of Tigray was hit by an air strike on Tuesday, local officials said, two days after rebel authorities there said they were ready for a ceasefire. The reported drone strike on the regional capital Mekele left at least one person injured, said Kibrom Gebreselassie, a senior official at Ayder Referral Hospital, the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-strike-on-ethiopias-tigray-rebels-hospital-79397/

DefenceTalkMore than 50,000 fighters including former rebels from rival camps in South Sudan’s civil war were set to be integrated into the country’s army in a long-overdue graduation ceremony on Tuesday. The unification of forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, was a key condition of the 2018 peace […]https://www.defencetalk.com/south-sudans-ex-rebels-set-to-join-unified-army-79249/

DefenceTalkIsrael’s army chief arrived in Morocco on Monday for meetings with senior defence officials, military sources said, as cooperation between the countries expands following a normalization of ties. Aviv Kohavi’s three-day trip is the first official visit of an Israeli army chief to the North African kingdom. Kohavi will meet Morocco’s minister delegate in charge […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israeli-army-chief-makes-first-morocco-visit-79110/

DefenceTalkKey ministers from France and Niger met on Friday as French forces revamp their mission in the Sahel following a planned pullout from Mali. Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu arrived in the Nigerien capital late Thursday. Their joint visit aims to “represent the combined civilian and military” support given by France, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-foreign-defence-ministers-in-niger-as-mali-pullout-nears-79091/

DefenceTalkNATO chief Jens Stoltenberg pledged more support Thursday for countries in Africa and the Middle East as the alliance looks to compete with Russia’s and China’s growing influence in the regions. Leaders meeting at a summit in Madrid discussed “how Russia and China continue to seek political, economic and military gain across our southern neighborhood”, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-wary-of-russian-chinese-gains-on-southern-flank-79060/

DefenceTalkThe United States and Morocco on Monday launched the vast annual “African Lion” military exercise, amid heightened tensions between the North African kingdom and neighboring Algeria. The exercise, which began in the southern Moroccan region of Agadir and lasts the rest of the month, involves some 7,500 personnel from 10 nations such as Brazil, France […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-morocco-launch-vast-military-exercise-79011/

DefenceTalkChina on Monday offered to play the role of mediator to resolve disputes in the Horn of Africa, on the opening day of a regional gathering in the Ethiopian capital. The China-Horn of Africa Conference on security, Governance and Development is the first of its kind and underscores Beijing’s determination to play a greater role […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-offers-to-mediate-horn-of-africa-disputes-78996/

DefenceTalkMany people in the conflict zones of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have greeted the proposed deployment of a regional force with mistrust and outright hostility. The proposal to deploy a peacekeeping force was announced on Monday in the Kenyan capital Nairobi at a meeting of the East African Community (EAC). But opponents of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/people-of-east-dr-congo-reject-idea-of-regional-force-79004/