Eurasia Security Watch: No. 347

Related Categories: Africa; Iraq; Middle East

EGYPTIAN MILITARY KILLS TOURISTS IN MILITANT TERRITORY
The Egyptian military launched an attack against a tour group that mistakenly killed 12 people, eight of whom were Mexican tourists. The military claims that the incident occurred in an area restricted from foreign tourists, but a local tour group claims that the tourists were in an unrestricted area on top of a sand dune. A deteriorating security situation in the Sinai Peninsula is likely to further damage Egypt’s important but flagging tourism revenues. (BBC September 14, 2015)

LIBYAN RIVAL GOVERNMENTS REACH “CONSENSUS”
The Islamist-backed government in Tripoli and the internationally-recognized government of Tobruk have come to a consensus on the main elements of a a power-sharing agreement. Issues resolved during the peace talks included how the government would make military and political appointments during an interim transition period and how they would appoint members of the legislature, the High Council of State. Text of the agreement is not yet available but observers believe the deal could calm the chaos that has engulfed Libya since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. (Al Jazeera September 12, 2015)

IRAQ TELLS TURKEY TO COORDINATE ATTACKS ON PKK
The Iraqi government has requested that the Turkish government coordinate its pursuit of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants with Iraqi ground forces. While Baghdad has indicated that it supports Turkey’s right to defend itself, it also claims that Turkish military forays into Iraq’s territory are a “violation of Iraqi sovereignty.” While Turkey is ostensibly dedicated to targeting ISIS forces operating inside Iraq, in reality, the Turkish military has been overwhelmingly focused on pursuing PKK militants into the mountains of northern Iraq. (Al Arabiya September 13, 2015)

AL QAEDA LEADER ISSUES STATEMENTS ON ISIS
After prolonged silence on the issue, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has issued seemingly contradictory statements on ISIS. In one message, Zawahiri made overtures of peace to ISIS and urged jihadists in Iraq and Syria to unite in the face of a common enemy. In another message, he described ISIS leader Abu al-Baghdadi’s self-styled caliphate as illegitimate. Al Qaeda disavowed ISIS in 2014 after al-Baghdadi ignored its command to stay out of the Syrian civil war. (CNN September 14, 2015)

SOUTH SUDAN DENIES ATTACKING REBELS
The South Sudanese Army denies having attacked rebels in a violation of a permanent ceasefire agreement between the official government and the rebels. Governor Joseph Nguen Monytuil refutes these claims and says that military attacks on rebels were ongoing and “barbaric.” Meanwhile, representatives of both the rebels and the government will attend a special meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on September 29. (Sudan Tribune September 13, 2015: Voice of America September 13, 2015)