1. Sweden’s crown princess visits troops - Northern Afghanistan
Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and her fiancé Daniel Westling on Sunday and Monday greeted Swedish soldiers stationed in Afghanistan….More than 500 Swedish troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan. They are stationed in the minority ethnic Uzbek, Tajik and Hazara-dominated north of the country along with Finnish troops.
2. US to increase troops in German sector of Afghanistan — northern Afghanistan
The US military plans to increase its presence significantly in northern Afghanistan, where the Bundeswehr has long been the dominant NATO force, news magazine Der Spiegel reported Monday….According to the magazine, the Bundeswehr expects that the new US troops will not only expand training for Afghan forces, but intensify the offensive against Taliban fighters - and in doing so heavily influence the activities of German troops.
3. December 31st: Moroccan, US military to strengthen cooperation
RABAT, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) — Commander of the United States African Command (AFRICOM) General William E. Ward visited Morocco, vowing to strengthen cooperation with the Moroccan army, local satellite channel Medi 1 Sat reported Thursday. Ward met with Lieutenant General Abdelaziz Bennani, general inspector of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and governor of the Southern Zone, and the two discussed bilateral military cooperation and opportunities to strengthen partnership between the Royal Armed Forces and the U.S. Army, the report said.
4. big changes in Morocco as government moves toward regionalization
Two political events have accentuated the Moroccan political scene in the last two days: the launch of the Advisory Committee on Regionalisation on Sunday and the government reshuffle on Monday, both appointed by HM King Mohamed VI. The Advisory Committee on Regionalisation comes along to serve in the regionalisation policy that Morocco is up to implement and integrate in its political, economic, social, and cultural infrastructure.
5. December 20th: Dadis Camera under “arrest” in Moroccan hospital
The United States seems determined to exercise its influence in the region and just a few days ago, the US government expressed its determination to keep wounded Guinean Head of State, out of Guinea Completely. It seems the US government wants to install its own favourable regime in the country and is currently in secret talks with the caretaker leader Defence Minister Sekouba Konate while Camara is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds in Morocco. The US is keen on not allowing rogue regimes to have any say in African governance and see the crisis in the West African Country as a window of opportunity to effect its influence in the country. The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State William Fitzgerald had said “We’re reaching out to try and talk to Konate,” He also said that the crisis in Guinea was a symptom of a dangerous slide in West Africa. “We’re deeply concerned that West Africa has fallen back from where it was,” which he said threatened broader instability in the resource-rich region. “The last thing we need is rogue militia running around West Africa again”.
