Kathryn Tyson

Africa File, May 1, 2025: AU, Turkey, and United States Surge to Halt al Shabaab; DRC Peace Talks; Uganda’s Role in the Eastern DRC

Somalia’s international partners are increasing their efforts to counter al Shabaab in response to the group’s significant gains in 2025....

Africa File, April 17, 2025: RSF War Crimes and Possible Genocide; al Shabaab Retaking Central Somalia; M23 Challenges; Algeria-Mali Spat

Sudan. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has committed numerous war crimes as the group has intensified its efforts to consolidate control o...

Africa File, April 10, 2025: The RSF’s Northern Sudan Campaign

Africa File, March 27, 2025: SAF Liberates Khartoum; Burundi and Rwanda Tensions

Sudan. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) fully retook central Khartoum and are clearing the last pockets of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) resi...

Africa File, March 20, 2025: Qatari-Mediated Ceasefire in DRC; SAF Closes in on Khartoum; RSF Attacks Spread to South Sudan; Al Shabaab Ramadan Offensive; Tigray Simmers as Amhara Escalates; Russia’s Red Sea Efforts; Burkinabe Massacres

Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda agreed to a Qatari-mediated ceasefire, but fundam...

Africa File Special Edition: Tigray Threatens to Spark the Next Eritrean-Ethiopian War and Plunge the Horn of Africa into Crisis

A violent power struggle in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region risks sparking another civil war in Ethiopia, which could, in turn, expand ...

Africa File, March 13, 2025: Looming Civil Wars in Ethiopia, South Sudan Threaten to Plunge Horn into Crisis; Renewed Peace Talks in DRC as M23 Advances

Africa File, March 6, 2025: Burundi and Rwanda Truce in Eastern DRC Despite M23 Advance; SAF Targets RSF Supply Lines in Darfur; Sahelian Jihadists Tap Trans-Saharan Networks

Africa File, February 27, 2025: SAF Advances West Toward Darfur; M23 and DRC Reset as International Pressure Grows on Rwanda; ISSP Poses Clear Transnational Threat; al Shabaab Central Somalia Offensive

Sudan. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are advancing in south-central Sudan and setting conditions for an offensive into Rapid Support Fo...

Africa File, February 20, 2025: M23 Advance Continues Unchallenged; SAF Grows Partnerships with Iran and Russia; RSF Creates Parallel Government in Sudan

Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwandan-backed M23 captured the South Kivu provincial capital, Bukavu, and continued to advance on seve...

Africa File, February 13, 2025: SAF Announces Government Plan and Russian Naval Base; DRC Concedes to Direct Talks with M23; Turkey’s Growing Defense Partnerships in Africa

• Sudan. The leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) outlined plans for a new government that likely aims to legitimize the SAF as the ...

Africa File, February 6, 2025: M23 Unilateral Ceasefire; SAF Closes in on Khartoum; US Airstrikes in Northern Somalia; al Shabaab Reinfiltrates Central Somalia; IS Sahel Kidnapping Campaign; US-Algeria Relationship Grows

Sudan. The SAF is poised to secure a major victory by recapturing Khartoum and pushing the RSF west of the Nile. Securing these objective...

Africa File, January 30, 2025: Rwandan-Backed M23 Captures Goma; SAF Breakthroughs in Khartoum; IS Sahel Linked to Angola Plot Targeting Biden Visit; IS Calls for Jihad in Sudan; Somalia Agrees with Egypt in AUSSOM

Drones Over Sudan: Foreign Powers in Sudan's Civil War

Africa File, January 24, 2025

Africa File, January 24, 2025: Russia Continues Pivot to Libya and Mali; SAF Advances in Khartoum; M23 Marches On Goma; IS Somalia Down but Not Out; AES Joint Force

Africa File, January 9, 2025: Islamic State Suicide Attack in Somalia; AUSSOM Dysfunction; M23 Captures District Capital in Eastern DRC

Africa File, December 19, 2024: Russia Reinforces Libya amid Syria Withdrawal; DRC-Rwanda Talks Collapse; Ethiopia’s Counter-Fano Campaign; ISSP Strangles Roadways in Niger; Ankara Declaration

Russia. Russia is reinforcing its positions in Libya and sub-Saharan Africa as it continues to consolidate in and withdraw some of its fo...

Africa File Special Edition: Ankara Declaration Reduces Ethiopia-Somalia Tensions but Leaves Unresolved Gaps

Africa File, December 12, 2024: Kremlin Pivot to Libya or Sudan Post-Syria; Turkey Mediates Ethiopia-Somalia Deal

Russia. Russia has maintained the security of its Syrian bases in the short term but expressed long-term uncertainty about the future of ...

Africa File, December 5, 2024: French Influence in Africa Erodes Further; Syria’s Impact on Russia in Africa and the Mediterranean; Somalia Political Dispute Turns Hot; DRC-Rwanda Peace Plans Move Ahead; Tuareg Setback

Africa File, November 21, 2024: Russian Mining in the Sahel; Sudan Ceasefire Still Unlikely; AU Mission in Somalia Uncertainty; IS Postelection Offensive in Mozambique

Africa File, November 14, 2024: Russia-Africa Ministerial Summit; AQ and IS Infiltrate Northwestern Nigeria; Jubbaland Goes Rogue

Russia. Russia used the first Russia-Africa Ministerial Summit to continue pushing narratives and securing deals that advance its strateg...

Africa File, October 31, 2024: Africa and BRICS; Sudan Fighting Fuels Humanitarian Disaster

BRICS. African engagement in the 2024 BRICS+ summit highlights that many African countries are primarily interested in the bloc’s economi...

Africa File, October 24, 2024: JNIM Strikes Northern Niger; DRC Peace Talks and M23 Offensive; Egypt-Djibouti Cooperation; Ethiopia-Somalia AUSSOM Tug-of-War; Central Somalia Offensive

Africa File, October 24, 2024: JNIM Strikes Northern Niger; DRC Peace Talks and M23 Offensive; Egypt-Djibouti Cooperation; Ethiopia-Somal...

Africa File, October 17, 2024: Egypt-Eritrea-Somalia Summit; Challenges with Tigray Peace Process

Africa File, October 10, 2024: DRC Attacks FDLR; Fano Counteroffensive; AUSSOM Issues; Mali’s Northern Challenges; Togo Border Pressure

Africa File, October 3, 2024: Khartoum Offensive; Internal Somali Rivalries; Benin Coup Attempt; Russia’s Projects in the Sahel

Sudan. The SAF launched an offensive to relieve several besieged units in Khartoum. Iranian or Turkish drones likely helped set condition...

Iran Update, September 19, 2024

Iran Update, September 18, 2024

Iran Update, September 16, 2024

Iran Update, September 13, 2024

Iran Update, September 12, 2024

Iran Update, September 9, 2024

Iran Update, September 6, 2024

Iran Update, September 5, 2024

Iran Update, September 3, 2024

Iran Update, September 2, 2024

Iran Update, August 30, 2024

Iran Update, August 29, 2024

Iran Update, August 27, 2024

Iran Update, August 23, 2024

Iran Update, August 19, 2024

Iran Update, August 16, 2024

Iran Update, August 15, 2024

Iran Update, August 14, 2024

Iran Update, August 13, 2024

Iran Update, July 25, 2024

Iran Update, July 24, 2024

Iran Update, July 22, 2024

Iran Update, July 19, 2024

Iran Update, July 18, 2024

Iran Update, July 16, 2024

Iran Update, July 15, 2024

The Axis of Resistance is continuing to try to coerce Gulf states into reducing their economic cooperation with Israel. Iranian-backed Ir...

Iran Update, July 13, 2024

Iran Update, July 12, 2024

Hamas continued to promote its postwar plan for a technocratic government to jointly rule the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Hamas is cont...

Iran Update, July 11, 2024

Iran Update, July 10, 2024

Iran Update, July 5, 2024

Iran Update, July 4, 2024

Iran Update, July 3, 2024

Iran Update, July 2, 2024

Iranian reformist presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian appears to be gaining momentum ahead of the runoff presidential elections on J...

Iran Update, June 27, 2024

Iran Update, June 26, 2024

Iran Update, June 24, 2024

Iran Update, June 20, 2024

Iran Update, June 18, 2024

Iran Update, June 14, 2024

Iran Update, June 13, 2024

Iran Update, June 12, 2024

Iran Update, June 10, 2024

Iran Update, June 7, 2024

Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar indicated opposition to the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal, according to unspecified Arab ...

Iran Update, June 5, 2024

Iran Update, June 03, 2024

Iran Update, May 31, 2024

Iran Update, May 30, 2024

Israel withdrew some IDF units from Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on May 30, according to local Palestinian sources.[i] The local au...

Iran Update, May 27, 2024

Iran Update, May 20, 2024

Iran Update, May 17, 2024

Iran Update, May 16, 2024

Iran Update, May 15, 2024

Iran Update, May 14, 2024

Israeli forces expanded clearing operations on May 14 into areas of Jabalia refugee camp that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had not pre...

Iran Update, May 9, 2024

Iran Update, May 8, 2024

Iran Update, May 7, 2024

Israeli forces launched a limited ground operation to control the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip...

Iran Update, May 6, 2024

Iran Update, May 4, 2024

Hamas and Qatari delegations arrived in Cairo to discuss the current ceasefire proposal on May 4.

Iran Update, May 2, 2024

Iran Update, April 29, 2024

Iran Update, April 26, 2024

Iran Update, April 22, 2024

Iran Update, April 19, 2024

Iran Update, April 16, 2024

Iran Update, April 12, 2024

Iran Update, April 10, 2024

Bloomberg reported on April 10 that Iran or its proxies may conduct missile or drone strikes targeting military and government facilities...

Iran Update, April 9, 2024

IRGC Navy Commander Rear Adm. Ali Reza Tangsiri implicitly threatened the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during an interview with Lebanese He...

Iran Update, April 8, 2024

Iran Update, April 4, 2024

Iran Update, April 3, 2024

Iran Update, April 2, 2024

A prominent Iranian-backed Iraqi militia threatened to create and arm a new Iranian proxy in Jordan, which may reflect a greater, more co...

Iran Update, April 1, 2024

Iran Update, March 29, 2024

Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) Chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri met with Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh in Teh...

Iran Update, March 27, 2024

Iran Update, March 26, 2024

Iran Update, March 22, 2024

Iran Update, March 21, 2024

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and other Palestinian militias cooperating against Israel have likely established at least one cell in Je...

Iran Update, March 20, 2024

Iran Update, March 19, 2024

Iran Update, March 18, 2024

Iran Update, March 11, 2024

Iran Update, February 29, 2024

Iran Update, February 28, 2024

Iran Update, February 27, 2024

Two Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated sources told the New York Times that Iranian-backed Iraqi militias “fierc...

Iran Update, February 24, 2024

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued clearing operations in Zaytoun neighborhood, southeastern Gaza City.

Iran Update, February 23, 2024

Iran Update, February 21, 2024

Iran Update, February 20, 2024

Russia may be setting conditions to supplant the United States as a security partner in Iraq in anticipation of the United States possibl...

Iran Update, February 18, 2024

Iran Update, February 17, 2024

Northern Gaza Strip: Israeli forces continued operations in and around al Nasser Hospital in western Khan Younis on February 17. Israeli ...

Iran Update, February 13, 2024

Iran Update, February 12, 2024

Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate reported that elements of Lebanese Hezbollah and the IRGC are training Russian drone ope...

Iran Update, February 10, 2024

Iran Update, February 9, 2024

Iran Update, February 7, 2024

Iran Update, February 3, 2024

Iran Update, February 2, 2024

The United States struck over 85 Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force and Iranian-backed militia targets in Iraq and Syr...

Iran Update, February 1, 2024

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued to operate in the northern Gaza Strip. The commander of the IDF Southern Command met with divis...

Iran Update, January 29, 2024

Iran Update, January 26, 2024

Iran Update, January 25, 2024

The United States and the Iraqi federal government will soon begin negotiations on Iraq's current security arrangement with US-led coalit...

Iran Update, January 24, 2024

Iran Update, January 23, 2024

Iran Update, January 19, 2024

Iran Update, January 18, 2024

Iran Update, January 17, 2024

Iran Update, January 12, 2024

Iran Update, January 11, 2024

Palestinian militias claimed several attacks in the northern Gaza Strip on January 11. The military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PI...

Iran Update, January 10, 2024

Iran Update, January 9, 2024

Iran Update, January 8, 2024

Iran Update, January 7, 2024

Iran Update, January 4, 2024

Iran Update, December 20, 2023

Israeli forces are transitioning from clearing operations to holding operations in some areas of the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces ...

Iran Update, December 19, 2023

Iran Update, December 18, 2023

Iran Update, December, 15, 2023

Iran Update, December 14, 2023

Iran Update, December 12, 2023

Palestinian militias are attempting to resist Israeli advances north and east of Khan Younis. The IDF Arabic-language spokesperson reiter...

Iran Update, December 11, 2023

Iran Update, December 8, 2023

Iran Update, December 7, 2023

Iran Update, December 6, 2023

Iran Update, December 4, 2023

Israel continued conducting clearing operations in the northern Gaza Strip to encircle Hamas in Shujaiya neighborhood and Jabalia city.

Iran Update, December 1, 2023

Iran Update, November 30, 2023

CTP and ISW have refocused the update to cover the Israel-Hamas war.

Iran Update, November 29, 2023

Iran Update, November 28, 2023

Israel and Hamas both reported at least one violation of the temporary truce agreement in the Gaza Strip, but neither side escalated the ...

Iran Update, November 27, 2023

Iran Update, November 17, 2023

Iran Update, November 16, 2023

Iran Update, November 15, 2023

Iran Update, November 14, 2023

Iran Update, November 10, 2023

Iran Update, November 13, 2023

Israel is pressuring Hamas to surrender its position inside the al Shifa Hospital.

Iran Update, November 9, 2023

Iran Update, November 8, 2023

Hamas forces north of Gaza City conducted hit-and-run attacks that harassed Israeli forces, which supports CTP-ISW's previous assessment ...

Iran Update, November 7, 2023

CTP and ISW have refocused the update to cover the Israel-Hamas war.

Iran Update, November 6, 2023

Iran Update, November 3, 2023

Iran Update, November 2, 2023

Iran Update, November 1, 2023

Lebanese Hezbollah-affiliated al Mayadeen reported that an Israeli armored unit advanced from the northwestern Gaza Strip south along the...

Iran Update, October 31, 2023

Iran Update, October 25, 2023

Iran and its so-called “Axis of Resistance” are pursuing a coordinated strategy to (1) deter Israel from trying to destroy Hamas in the G...

Iran Update, October 26, 2023

Iran Update, October 23, 2023

Palestinian militias continued attacks at their usual rate from the Gaza Strip into Israel while IDF airstrikes targeted Palestinian mili...

Iran Update, October 20, 2023

Palestinian militias continued indirect fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 20. Hamas also released two American hostages hel...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, October 11, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, October 4, 2023: Pakistan Suicide Bombings, Somalia Backsliding, Tribal Insurgency Challenges SDF, and Sahelian Juntas Face Internal Pressure

Iraq and Syria. Tribal insurgent attacks against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) quintupled in the past week compared to pre...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update, September 27: Tribal Insurgency May Expand in Syria; Mali and Separatist Rebels Resume Fighting; Afghan Taliban and Pakistan Discuss Cross-Border Attacks; Iran Targets IS-Affiliated Militants in Iran

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update, September 20: Anti-Syrian Democratic Forces Insurgency Continues in Deir ez Zor, Kremlin Works to Replace Wagner in the Sahel, IS in Pakistan Targets Politician Before Elections, and Haqqani Network Supports Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan Attacks in Pakistan

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update, September 13, 2023: SDF Lose Legitimacy in Deir ez Zor, al Qaeda and the Islamic State expand in West Africa, TTP Launches Offensive in Pakistan

Iraq and Syria. The tactics the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) used in recent clashes with Arab tribes in Deir ez Zor province undermined...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, September 7, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, August 31, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, August 16, 2023

Iraq and Syria. ISIS is conducting offensive operations in the central Syrian desert. Niger. The Nigerien junta will likely expedite effo...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, August 9, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, July 20, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, July 12, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, July 5, 2023

Iraq and Syria. ISIS conducted three attacks in Iraq near a border crossing in Saudi Arabia, possibly signaling the group’s intent to cha...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, June 28, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, June 21, 2023 

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, June 14, 2023

Somalia. The Somali Federal Government (SFG) has to date failed to launch an offensive against al Shabaab in southern Somalia in 2023, wh...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, June 7, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, May 31, 2023

Iraq and Syria. ISIS likely is increasing large-scale operations, setting conditions to challenge regime control in some population cente...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, May 24, 2023

US Embassies Should Not Cede Space to Terrorists

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, May 17, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update Special Edition: Protests in Pakistan, May 16, 2023

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is trying to incite a new wave of protests in Pakistan.

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update Special Edition: Protests in Pakistan, May 12, 2023

Protests in Pakistan decreased on May 12 but may surge again if Pakistani authorities rearrest or try Prime Minister Imran Khan at the en...

Timeline: US Embassies Threatened by Spread of Salafi-Jihadi Groups

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update Special Edition: Protests in Pakistan, May 11, 2023

Unrest may continue in Pakistan despite efforts by the Pakistani government and former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to deescalate ...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update Special Edition: Protests in Pakistan, May 10, 2023

The crisis resulting from the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and the eruption of violent protests against the Pakis...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update Special Edition: Protests in Pakistan, May 9, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, May 4, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, April 27, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, April 19, 2023

The Islamic State is strengthening and expanding globally. US operations targeting senior leaders in the Islamic State’s network temporar...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, April 12, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, April 5, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, March 29, 2023

Iraq and Syria. ISIS remains a viable insurgency in Syria that aspires to reestablish a territorial caliphate. The US presence in Syria e...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, March 22, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, March 16, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, March 8, 2023

Somalia. The Somali Federal Government (SFG) will begin a major offensive targeting al Shabaab–controlled areas of southern Somalia in th...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, March 1, 2023

Iran-backed Shi’a militants likely massacred unarmed Sunni civilians in Diyala on February 20. ISIS has not commented on the attack. Pro-...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, February 22, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, February 15, 2023

Somalia. Several large-scale al Shabaab attacks on military bases across Somalia highlight that Somali counterterrorism efforts have not ...

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, February 8, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, February 1, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, January 25, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, January 18, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Movement Weekly Update, January 12, 2023

Salafi-Jihadi Global Tracker: Islamic State Affiliates Pledge to New Leader

Islamic State affiliates have released pledges of allegiance to the new IS leader following the prior leader’s death in October. The pled...

Islamic State Increases Attacks as Pakistani Taliban Negotiates

The Islamic State’s Pakistan Province (ISPP) is attempting to recruit from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the TTP negotiates with...

Iran Crisis Update, November 7

Some elements of the Iranian regime have suggested political reform to assuage protesters’ frustrations, although such reform is highly u...

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 20

Russia is likely continuing to prepare for a false flag attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP).

Salafi-Jihadi Areas of Operation in Libya

Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 9, 2022

Gulf of Aden Security Review – September 7, 2022

Salafi-Jihadi Global Tracker: Salafi-Jihadi Groups Threaten India After Political Controversy

Al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates are conducting attack and messaging campaigns against Indian politicians and religious groups in re...

Salafi-Jihadi Global Tracker: Islamic State Media Exaggerates Strength and Cohesion in Revenge Campaign

Africa File: Libya foothold creates options for the Islamic State in northwestern Africa

Africa File: Political instability threatens counterterrorism gains in Maghreb, Sahel, and Horn

Africa File: African al Qaeda affiliates praise Taliban takeover

Africa File: Terrorism’s rising cost in Africa

Africa File: Islamic State’s Sahel branch ups activity amid Mali’s political crisis

Africa File: Islamic State withdraws from northern Mozambique town, but challenges remain

Africa File: Islamic State overruns northern Mozambique port

Africa File: Political conflicts create openings for Salafi-jihadi groups in Somalia, Mali

Africa File: The Islamic State comes to Mozambique