in
many cases strive for a noble cause, or are at least fighting against
tyranny.
The terrorists however stop at nothing, and care little for anyone who
gets in their way. They are fanatics and have no compunction
about
using the deaths of children and women get in the way of accomplishing
those goals.
Rebels
are usually respected, and have at least a local group of staunch
supporters.
They operate using guerilla tactics, making hit and run raids on the
opposition,
stealing supplies when possible and retreating into the safety of the
landscape.
For the most part they are disorganized, usually fighting in their own
country against whatever or whoever they feel is 
imposing
upon them. However this is not always the case. Voice Of
the
Wastes for example is possibly the largest, most aggressive, and most
organized
group of rebels in Africa. The group has its roots in Algeria,
and
the group has gained massive support from its neighbors in Senegal,
Tunisia,
Mali, and Niger. All of whom want to see an end to western
influence
in Africa. Still most rebel groups are small, made up
mostly
of military deserters and civilians who don't agree with the way their
country is run. Most rebels, even in the larger groups, are armed
with old U.S. and Soviet surplus left over from previous occupations or
bought from arms dealers at cut-rate prices. It is common to see
a rebel carrying an old M-16 (Possibly an M-16/M-204 combo) or an
AK-47.
Uniforms are almost basically whatever a rebel can scrounge together,
consisting
usually of a pair of good boots, a pair of shorts and possibly a
camouflage
t-shirt (though more often any t-shirt will do, its kind of amusing to
note that the guy shooting 
at
you is wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt). The luckier groups are
also
equipped and armed by the Chinese, whose technology is much higher, but
still inferior to the Americans and Europeans by about 10 years.
And then there are the really poor rebels, who must equip themselves
with
whatever they can find. 
In some
cases this means the rebels only
weapon will be an 80 year old pistol, or a hunting rifle, or even
antiques
left over from WWII. As far as vehicles and armor go, it is
almost
nonexistent in most groups. When a group does procure a vehicle
it
is usually a jeep or truck stolen from a civilian, or a captured
vehicle
from the opposition. Most of the armored vehicles left in Africa
from previous occupations have been claimed by the countries own
military,
though in some of the larger rebel groups there are armored vehicles,
and
in some cases even aircraft.
The
rebels operate the way rebels anywhere in the world do, and find
support
in the community. They operate effectively because of their
ability
to blend into their surroundings, either hiding in plain sight, or
disappearing
into the landscape. They are comprised of men, women, and
children
loyal to whatever cause they are fighting for. Their cause is
usually
just and right, and sympathy with their struggle is overwhelming.
Who can't sympathize with a group fighting for freedom, or even simply
to survive. That's right, most rebel forces are fighting for
political
causes. However some are comprised of tribal and religious groups
that have been slaughtered by their government near the point of
extinction
and are now fighting back as best they can only for the right to
survive. Another
major component of the rebel forces are mercenaries.
Proffessional
soldiers from all over the world are hired
by these groups to
supplement
and train their forces. In many cases these 
mercenaries
will be incredibly well trained, equal to special forces at least, and
much better equipped than the standard rebel as they have
the luxury of
bringing in their own supplies. However most mercenaries are in
it
strictly for the money, so will usually retreat if fighting a losing
battle.
Many of the free lance solo's around the world can find work here,
although
the pay isn't much. Learning from the mercenaries
and Chinese advisors the rebel forces have gained the knowledge to
implement
the dirtiest of tricks. Tunnel digging is very widespread here,
as
are the use of simple traps like pungi stakes and tiger traps.
So
on the surface everyone sides with the rebels, and that's the way it
should
be. However, the rebels are not completely sympathetic, nor are
they
always benevolent. Often rebel tactics include banditry and
murder.
Stopping civilians on the road, especially foreign tourists, robbing
them
and killing them is an all 
too
common tactic. They also have a penchant for attacking non
sympathetic
villages and towns. Still other groups of rebels are every bit as
bad, and in some cases worse than the governments they are trying to
overthrow.
Cases such as these are exploited heavily by American and EEC media
alike,
that is at least in the the cases where the media is allowed to report
at all. And military spin doctors of both the superpowers make
sure
that this is the image of African rebels their soldiers have.
Terrorists
are the true scum of the earth no matter where you are, and this holds
no less true in Africa. Unlike the rebels who for the most part
engage
their enemy directly, terrorists prefer to attack with bombings on
civilian
installations, assassinations of political figures, and
kidnapping.
They are completely fanatical, willing, if not wanting, to die for
their
cause and take as many infidels with them as they can.
Of
all the terrorist groups in Africa the Black Jyhad is the most
notorious,
most recently claiming responsibility for the Egyptian National Museum
hostage situation. Two months ago a group of terrorists
took
over the museum, killed several guards and the curator, and held a
group
of schoolchildren hostage for almost two days. Among the children
were several sons and daughters of European and American businessmen
and
politicians. The Egyptian police were unable to resolve the
situation,
as every time they sent men in they were 
pushed
back by the well dug in terrorists. Finally after intense
negotiations
the Egyptian Government gave the ok for the U.S. to have a group of
Navy
SEAL's brought up from Zaire to breach the building. Originally
the
plan was opposed by the EEC, who felt that the S.A.S. troops would be
more
appropriate. However the Egyptian government, fearful of
retribution
by any of the parties involved agreed that since the U.S. had responded
first it was their privilege. The plan went off without a hitch
and
all the children were brought safely out, except one who was caught in
a last minute explosion as she was exciting the building. All the
terrorists were either captured or killed and property damage was
negligible.
Other recent incidents have not been resolved so well, such as
January's
tour bus bombing in Morocco which left no survivors.
Terrorists are not as well equipped as the rebels, they don't need to be. They don't engage in open conflict. The prevailing mode of thought seems to be, "Why waste 100 bullets and hit nothing, when one bomb properly placed can make the point so much more clearly!" Powered by religious or political fervor, often times both, a terrorist is the most deadly weapon on the planet. His own life means nothing to him, he will gladly strap a bomb to his own chest and walk into a crowded restaurant. In cases where security is a bit tighter terrorists will often use children, usually their own in the same type manner. They usually don't have the popular support that rebels enjoy, but they do have support in their own communities. In other more rare cases rebels and terrorist groups work closely together, this is most prevalent int the case of the VOW and the terrorist group from which it was formed, the Black Jyhad.
Above
all else, when you find yourself in an area with a history of terrorist
activity trust no one and nothing.
