West Africa and Maghreb Security Brief

MAY 18 - JUNE 2

AQIM releases recording of French hostage; Mauritanian courts convict AQIM militants over French tourist massacre and Austrian kidnapping; AQIM leader surrenders in Algeria; Operation Flintlock training mission underway in Sahel; Egyptian Islamist holds rally in Mauritania; Nigerien authorities detain Algerian who drove AQIM-abducted Frenchman; AQIM militants ambushed in eastern Algeria; informal economy make make up majority of Nigerian GDP; three Muslims killed near Jos; Niger Delta government group rejects peace moves; former Niger Delta militants offer Nigerian president support; Jonathan sacks National Nigerian Petroleum Company head.