Democratic Republic of Congo: Army Claims Rwandan Hutu Rebel Commander Killed. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army says they have killed Sylvestre Mudacumura, commander of the Rwandan Hutu fighters wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court. Mudacumura had been a leader of the group since its founding in 2000 by Hutu officials who fled Rwanda at the end of the 1994 genocide. "Sylvestre Mudacumura was neutralised by the armed forces of Congo along with all the elements accompanying him ... in Rutshuru territory," army spokesman Richard Kasonga said. France 24 Reuters The Washington Post
Uganda: Russia to Help Uganda Develop Nuclear Energy. Uganda said on Wednesday it had signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with Russia to help it build capacity to exploit nuclear technology for energy, medical, and other peaceful purposes. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has previously said it is eager to use the country’s uranium deposits to boost energy production capacity. In May last year Uganda also signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to help Uganda build capacity in the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. Reuters
- At a Glance: The Salafi-jihadi movement continues to make gains in Africa, including in areas in which previous counterterrorism efforts had significantly reduced Salafi-jihadi groups’ capabilities. The movement is positioned to take advantage of the expected general reduction in counterterrorism pressure.
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September 4 Briefing:The Salafi-jihadi movement is gaining strength across a broad swath of western Africa—especially in the terrain extending from southwestern Libya and through the western Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea countries.
- Revisit our report on the threat in the Sahel.
- Check out detailed analysis on:
The Islamic State can no longer rely on local funding sources as it did when it controlled territory. But as an insurgency, its expenses are far lower. With revenue from criminal activities and the cash it hoarded, the group will survive as a clandestine terrorist movement. Counterfinance, intelligence, and possibly military action will be needed. Read more »
https://www.meforum.org/58919/get-the-latest-updates-from-counter-islamism-grid
By Glen Carey, Bloomberg: "Al-Qaeda and its affiliates remain as much of a threat to the U.S. as “it has ever been” after the terrorist group rebuilt itself while the U.S. and other nations focused on destroying Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, a State Department official said."
Though not a veteran warrior, Hamza bin Laden enjoyed star power within jihadist circles due to his father’s legacy. He potentially represented al-Qaeda’s future.
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Islamic State Wages Desert-Based Insurgency in Iraq and Syria
By Thomas Joscelyn, FDD's Long War Journal: "The U.S.-led coalition, Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), reports that “ISIS has been able to regroup and sustain operations in Iraq and Syria.”"