Ryan Cummings Profile picture
Director @signalrisk @standoutbefound. Co-founder @mytravelrisk. Senior Associate @CSISAfrica. Co-Author https://t.co/2kumBmdVqF
Jul 30 14 tweets 3 min read
So following my thread on the supposed identity of the 95 Libyans who were detained in White River, Mpumalanga, concern has been raised as to whether South Africa could be hosting training camps that are being used by terrorist groups. Such concerns certainly have merit (thread) First verifiable reports of South Africa hosting training camps for the al-shabaab terrorist group surfaced in 2013 following the attack on Nairobi's Westgate shopping complex. Details of this were contained in an intelligence dossier provided to Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta
Jul 29 6 tweets 2 min read
So on the issue of the Libyan nationals who were found at a military camp in Mpumalanga province, I decided to see if I could source information from Libyan media on the development. And came across some very interesting information (Thread) The Libyans are members of the so called Tariq bin Ziyad Brigade that is affiliated with notorious Libyan National Army commander, Khalifa Haftar. The Libyans were sent to South Africa to receive training as 'special forces' under supervision of an undisclosed Irish security firm
Oct 26, 2022 4 tweets 2 min read
BREAKING: US Embassy issues security message warning of a possible terrorist attack in the Sandton area of johannesburg za.usembassy.gov/security-alert… South Africa is the latest African state for which the US government has issued a terrorist warning in the past week. Follows a 23 October terrorism warning for Abuja, Nigeria
May 8, 2021 5 tweets 2 min read
Today marks the first morning home after after seeking clinical treatment for my depression & anxiety. When I started the process two weeks ago I was filled with fear, hopelessness and weakness. This morning I see my decision as the ultimate act of bravery, courage and self love While I am far from recovered, I am on the right track and acknowledge that finding my personal utopia is a process & not an event. I have no affirmations to pronounce nor magical pills to promote. All I can say is that there is help no matter how hopeless and destitute you feel
Jul 9, 2020 4 tweets 2 min read
As per @darren_olivier thread, South Africa may have already deployed an elite squadron to assist in countering Islamists in northern Mozambique, without parliamentary disclosure. There are also reports that South Africa tacitly endorsed deployment of DAG PMC in Cabo Delgado These developments come after ISIS warned via its al-Naba publication on 03 July that it would open up a fighting front in South Africa if the SANDF deployed against the groups Mozambican branch in Cabo Delgado province
Apr 12, 2020 5 tweets 2 min read
South Africa's relatively low number of #covid19 infection & mortality rates, is the only reason why there is debate regarding the merits of lockdown. Its initiation - as elsewhere - was an unprecedented measure to best preserve human life which its achieved to date Its relative effectiveness has now become its primary point of contention. Those slating lockdown due to its economic impacts, hardly credit it for its role in possibly preventing a pervasive outbreak many anticipated would occur & which could've led to widespread social disorder
Mar 20, 2019 4 tweets 1 min read
A paradox of us - the so called 'previously disadvantaged' of South Africa - and our collective responsibility in our country's status quo. Has our drive for upward socio-economic mobility drained our communities of skills & investment which we have taken to developed areas? I come from the Cape Flats (Athlone specifically) where apartheid spatial segregation when that skills which we gained within our community were legislated to stay there. We had doctors, lawyers, teachers who serviced our communities. When legislation lifted, we moved out