MS Risk Blog

Sierra Leone Reports New Ebola Case Just Hours After Region Declared Free of Virus

On 15 January, Sierra Leone officials confirmed a death of Ebola, just hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the latest West Africa outbreak over.

According to an Ebola test centre spokesman, tests on a person who died in northern Sierra Leone proved positive. Sidi Yahya Tunis disclosed that the death occurred earlier this week and that the patient had died in the Tonkolili district, adding he had travelled there from Kambia, which is located close to the border with Guinea. The victim was a 22-year-old female student. According to district medical officer Augustine Junisa, “the victims was taken ill when she was on holidays in Bamoi Luma and was taken to Magburaka, where her relatives took her to the government hospital for medical attention…Three days later she died at home and her death was reported to the hospital officials and initial swap test was taken which proved positive.” Sources have reported that health officials are now urgently seeking those who had come into contact with the victim.

Sierra Leone was declared free of the virus on 7 November 2015, and the region as a whole was cleared when Liberia was pronounced Ebola-free on 14 January. While the WHO has warned that flare-ups are expected, Friday’s announcement of a new case in the region is a setback for the area. Already, ten other flare-ups have taken place in areas where the spread of Ebola was thought to have ended, effectively raising new questions about WHO procedures in assessing whether the epidemic was really over. On Friday, the UN Health agency reported that Sierra Leone’s government was moving rapidly in order to contain the new threat, noting however that it was not immediately clear how the 22-year-old woman may have contracted Ebola as all known transmission chains in that country were halted in November. 

Timeline of Ebola Epidemic in West Africa

Below are key dates in the latest Ebola epidemic, which is the worst outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever, which first surfaced in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the latest toll released by the WHO, the epidemic has left more than 11,300 dead, mainly in the West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Almost 29,000 cases were reported during the outbreak.

Epidemic Starts in Guinea:

• December 2013: A one-year-old baby dies in southern Guinea and is later identified as “patient zero.” The virus remains localized until February 2014, when a care worker in a neighbouring province dies.

Ebola Begins to Spread in West Africa:

• 31 March 2014 – Two cases are confirmed by the WHO in Liberia, while on 26 May, Sierra Leone confirms its first case, to be followed in late July by Nigeria, in August by Senegal and in October by Mali. Senegal and Nigeria are declared free of Ebola in October 2014 while Mali is declared Ebola-free in January 2015.

Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone Cut Off From The World:

• 30 May 2015 – According to the aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Ebola is “out of control.” The three worst-hit countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – declare measures that include states of emergency and quarantines. Many neighbouring states close their borders with the affected countries.

A ‘Public Health Emergency’:

• 8 August 2014 – The WHO declares Ebola a “public health emergency of international concern.” Four days later, it authorizes the use of experimental drugs in order to fight Ebola after an ethical debate. That day, a Spanish missionary infected in Liberia dies in Madrid, becoming the first European fatality.

Death in the US:

• 30 September 2014 – A Liberian man is hospitalized in the US state of Texas, effectively becoming the first Ebola infection to be diagnosed outside of Africa. He dies on 8 October.
• 6 October 2014 – A Spanish nurse in a Madrid hospital becomes the first person to be infected outside Africa. She is treated and released on 19 October.

Ebola Begins a Halting Retreat:

• 22 February 2015 – Liberia says it is lifting nationwide curfews and re-opening borders, as the epidemic begins to retreat.
• 26 February 2015 – The US ends its military mission in West Africa, where it deployed 2,800 soldiers in order to fight against Ebola. Soldiers were mainly deployed to Liberia.

Closing in on a Vaccine:

• 10 July 2015 – International donors pledge US $3.4 billion in order to help stamp out Ebola.
• 31 July 2015 – The WHO says an Ebola vaccine provided 100-percent protection in a field trial in Guinea, suggesting that the world is “on the verge of an effective Ebola vaccine.”

Hardest-hit Countries Emerge from the Epidemic:

• 9 May and 3 September 2015 – Liberia is declared Ebola-free by the WHO after no new cases were recorded for 42 days. However the declarations are followed by a resurgence of the virus. On 4 December, Liberia releases from hospital its last two known Ebola cases.
• 7 November 2015 – Sierra Leone is declared free of the outbreak by the WHO.
• 29 December – The WHO declares Guinea’s Ebola outbreak over, six weeks after the recovery of its last known patient, a three-week old girl who was born with the virus.

Kenya Launches Search and Rescue Operation in Somalia in Wake of Al-Shabaab Attack on Military Base

Kenya has said that a search and rescue operation is underway in neighbouring Somalia as al-Shabaab militants claimed to have killed more than 100 Kenyan soldiers in Friday’s attack on an African Union (AU) base.

The base in southwestern Somalia was attacked by al-Shabaab fighters early Friday morning. On Sunday, military chief Samson Mwathethe told reporters in the capital Nairobi that “we embarked on a search, rescue and recovery operation as a priority,” adding, “our troops are engaging the terrorists.” While Kenyan officials have so far declined to say how many of its soldiers were killed, injured or missing in the attack, on Sunday, al-Shabaab indicated in a statement that more than 100 Kenyan soldiers were killed and others captured. In the statement, it said, “Mujahideen fighters…stormed the Kenyan base in the early hours of Friday morning, killing more than 100 Kenyan invaders, seizing their weapons and military vehicles and even capturing Kenyan soldiers alive.” Jihadist websites in Somalia are claiming that 12 Kenyan soldiers were captured. At the time of the attack, a company of around 150 Kenyan soldiers was stationed at the El-Adde base. On Sunday, four injured soldiers were returned to Nairobi.

The pre-dawn attack on the Kenyan base in Somalia’s Gedo region was at least the third major assault on isolated AU bases in the last year. In September, al-Shabaab fighters stormed a Ugandan AMISOM base in Janale district, which is located 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region. In June, al-Shabaab militants killed dozens of Burundian soldiers when they overran an AMISOM outpost northwest of Mogadishu.

Burkina Faso and Mali to Work to Counter Threat of Terrorism in Region

In the wake of Friday’s deadly terrorist attack in Burkina Faso, the West African country and neighbouring Mali have agreed to work together to counter the growing threat of Islamic militants in West Africa by sharing intelligence and conducting joint security patrols.

According to officials, the prime ministers of Mali and Burkina Faso met on Sunday, just two days after al-Qaeda militants seized the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso’s capital city Ouagadougou, opened fire on a restaurant and attacked another hotel nearby, killing at least 28 people from at least seven countries and wounding fifty others. The assault, which was claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) just hours later, follows a similar raid that occurred in November 2015 on a luxury hotel in the Malian capital Bamako. That attack resulted in the death of twenty people, including citizens from China, Russia and the United States. In a statement on the attack in Burkina Faso, AQIM identified three attackers and called the targeted hotel and surrounding areas “one of the most dangerous dens of global espionage in the west of the African continent,” warning that “this blessed operation is but a drop in the sea of global jihad.”

On Sunday, Burkina Faso’s prime minister Paul Kaba Thieba disclosed that “there is a very strong political will on the part of the two states to combine our efforts to fight terrorism.” Thieba and his Malian counterpart Modibo Keita visited the outside of the Splendid Hotel on Sunday, where bullet holes and a charred exterior offered reminders of Friday evening’s attack. Tight security was in place around the hotel while inside, Burkinabe and French security officials were conducting an investigation. Security forces in Burkina Faso retook the 146-room hotel on Saturday after firefights with militants, at least three of whom were killed. Survivors have since reported that militants targeted white victims at the hotel and at the restaurant, both of which were popular among westerners.

According to provisional figures released by the Burkinabe government, amongst the dead were eight Burkinabe’s, four Canadians, three Ukrainians, two Portuguese, two French, two Swiss and one Dutch citizen. Seven bodies are yet to be identified and the list is subject to change. On Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that six Canadians had been killed. Also on Sunday, Italy’s foreign ministry reported that a nine-year-old Italian boy and his mother were killed in the assault on Cappuccino, the restaurant attacked opposite the Splendid Hotel. The boy and his mother were the son and wife of the restaurant owner.

While the exact details of the cooperation between Burkina Faso and Mali currently remain unclear, patrols and the sharing of intelligence mark an intent by the two countries to prevent the spread of militancy as AQIM and others expand operations in the region beyond their usual reach. While over the past several years, Islamic militants have used northern Mali as a base, recently, they have staged a number of attacks in other parts of the country, moving further south and prompting concerns that they are expanding their area of operation. Burkina Faso’s authorities are now concerned that its long desert border with Mali could become a transit point for militants.

Security Advisory: Baraboule, Burkina Faso (15 Jan 2016)

 Executive Summary

• Australian couple kidnapped in Burkina Faso overnight Friday to Saturday.
• Islamist group confirms kidnapping.

Incident Overview

The Burkinabe government has confirmed that two Australians have been kidnapped in Burkina Faso, specifically in Baraboule, near the West African country’s borders with Niger and Mali. Burkina Faso’s Communications Minister Remi Dandjinou disclosed Saturday that the couple were Australian nationals, correcting an earlier statement released by the interior ministry which had identified them as Austrian.

A spokesman for Malian militant group Ansar Dine, Hamadou Ag Khallini has stated that the couple were being held by jihadists from al-Qaeda-linked “Emirate of the Sahara,” adding that they are alive and that more details would be released soon.

News of the kidnapping comes just hours after Islamist militants stormed the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, leaving at least 26 people dead, including many foreigners.

Embassy Contact Details

Embassy of Canada

316 Professor Joseph KIZERBO ave.

01 P.O. box 548

Ouagadougou 01

Telephone: (226)25.49.08.00

Email: Ouaga@international.gc.ca

Hours of operation: Monday to Thursday (8:30 AM to 12PM; 2PM to 4PM); Friday (8:30 AM – 12 PM)

***Please note that Australians are covered by the Canadian embassy in Ouagadougou***

French Embassy

Avenue du Tresor, BP 504, Ouagadougou

Telephone: (226) 25.49.66.66

Security Advisory

• With ongoing operations in central Ouagadougou, MS Risk advises all travellers to avoid the central area of the capital and to shelter in place unless instructed otherwise by security forces or authorities.
• We also advise all travellers to the country to avoid the border areas with Mali, this is due to a high threat of kidnap. We advise those in remote areas of the country to be aware of ground moves and to always travel in convoy.
• We advise that companies operating across Burkina Faso ensure that heightened levels of security are in place, including accounting for personnel, maintaining regular comms checks, reviewing security and considering crisis plans.
• A curfew has been put in place from 2300 to 0600 UTC in Ouagadougou.
• While the airport in Ouagadougou and borders are currently open, MS Risk advises all travellers that the Burkinabe authorities may change this with minimal notice.

In the wake of the terror attack in Ouagadougou, MS Risk has the following in place:

• Our local agents are taking stock of the scene and we will be able to provide local nationals as private security personnel through our partners for the benefit of clients.  This includes provision of fully licensed armed personnel.

• We have liaison in place with the state security forces and will share relevant information as we are made aware.

• Our analyst team is reviewing the attack and tracking related events and will be issuing further bulletins.

• We have expatriate consultants on standby to deploy to Burkina Faso to conduct urgent security reviews, update crisis response contingencies, supervise security enhancements, coordinate repatriation of non-essential personnel for any companies and other tasks as may be necessary.

• Our aviation partners can lay on private air charters if there is a demand.  We will continue to monitor commercial flight schedules.

• Contact us for more information or support:

• By email: info@msrisk.com
• Our 24/7 hotline: +44 207 754 3555 and request assistance.  Have your    contact details to hand so we can ensure appropriate follow up.

Security Advisory: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (15 Jan 2016)

Executive Summary

• On 15 January, around 19:30 local time, multiple gunmen attacked the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso.
• Three to six gunmen stormed the hotel, taking hostages.
• Officials have reported that 22 people have been killed, including foreign nationals.
• The Cappuccino café-restaurant, located across from the hotel, was also attacked.
• Security forces launched assault to reclaim the hotel in the early hours of Saturday.
• The Burkinabe government has enforced a curfew from 2300 to 0600 UTC.
• Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility.

Incident Overview

On 15 January at approximately 19:30 local time, multiple gunmen attacked the Splendid Hotel, which is frequented by westerners, in Ouagadougou. Witnesses reported that attackers torched cars and fired in the air in a bid to drive people back from the building. There was an intense gun battle that erupted between the gunmen and security forces.

In the early hours of Saturday, security forces launched an assault to reclaim the Splendid Hotel, with witnesses reporting that part of the hotel was on fire. Security operations to drive the militants from the hotel have ended, with Minister of Communications Remis Danjinou reporting that all 126 hostages have been freed. Three jihadists were killed in the operation. Security ministry spokesman Abi Ouattara has confirmed that 22 people have been killed in the terror attacks in Ouagadougou. The fatalities are believed to be from 18 different countries. At least thirty-three people have been taken to hospital with injuries, with patients reporting that the attackers had targeted westerners. At least ten people were killed in the terror attack at the Cappuccino Café. On Saturday morning, a second siege by gunmen was reported to be taking place at a second hotel, the Yibi Hotel. Operations are currently underway with security forces trying to determine if some of the fighters were hiding there.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for the attack. It is believed that fighters from al-Qaeda affiliate al-Murabitoun carried out the attack.   The group has indicated that it targeted the Splendid Hotel because it is popular with foreigners.

While Burkina Faso has endured bouts of political turmoil in the wake of the overthrow of veteran President Blaise Compaore in October 2014, it has been largely spared of violence carried out by Islamist militants who have staged deadly attacks in neighbouring Mali, which it shares a 600 km (375 mile) border. Friday’s attack will present a significant challenge to President Roch Marc Kabore, who was elected in November 2015 as Burkina Faso’s first new leader in decades.

In December 2015, the French embassy warned its citizens against travelling to a national park in eastern Burkina Faso after reports that jihadists were threatening to kidnap foreigners. In May 2015, Islamist militant group al-Mourabitoun disclosed that it was holding a Romanian man who was kidnapped from a mine in northern Burkina Faso the previous month.

In recent years, Islamist militants have staged deadly attacks in a number of West African states bordering the Sahel. On 20 November 2015, two militants killed twenty people, including foreigners, at the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali’s capital. Security forces later killed the two militants. That attack was claimed by al-Mourabitoun and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), with AQIM later calling for similar attacks across the region.   In the wake of that attack, officials in the region warned of similar attacks being carried out, including in Burkina Faso.

Embassy Contact Details

Embassy of Canada

316 Professor Joseph KIZERBO ave.

01 P.O. box 548

Ouagadougou 01

Telephone: (226)25.49.08.00

Email: Ouaga@international.gc.ca

Hours of operation: Monday to Thursday (8:30 AM to 12PM; 2PM to 4PM); Friday (8:30 AM – 12 PM)

***Please note that Australians are covered by the Canadian embassy in Ouagadougou***

French Embassy

Avenue du Tresor, BP 504, Ouagadougou

Telephone: (226) 25.49.66.66

Security Advisory

• With ongoing operations in central Ouagadougou, MS Risk advises all travellers to avoid the central area of the capital and to shelter in place unless instructed otherwise by security forces or authorities.
• A curfew has been put in place from 2300 to 0600 UTC.
• While the airport in Ouagadougou and borders are currently open, MS Risk advises all travellers that the Burkinabe authorities may change this with minimal notice.

In the wake of the terror attack in Ouagadougou, MS Risk has the following in place:

• Our local agents are taking stock of the scene and we will be able to provide local nationals as private security personnel through our partners for the benefit of clients.  This includes provision of fully licensed armed personnel.

• We have liaison in place with the state security forces and will share relevant information as we are made aware.

• Our analyst team is reviewing the attack and tracking related events and will be issuing further bulletins.

• We have expatriate consultants on standby to deploy to Burkina Faso to conduct urgent security reviews, update crisis response contingencies, supervise security enhancements, coordinate repatriation of non-essential personnel for any companies and other tasks as may be necessary.

• Our aviation partners can lay on private air charters if there is a demand.  We will continue to monitor commercial flight schedules.

• Contact us for more information or support:

• By email: info@msrisk.com
• Our 24/7 hotline: +44 207 754 3555 and request assistance.  Have your    contact details to hand so we can ensure appropriate follow up.