Merc 2000: Mali/Burkhina Faso

[Enfield]

Haven't posted in a while. My player group begged me to run a Merc 2000 game with characters working for a PMC in Africa. I decided to pick stuff already laid out in the Merc 2000 books and picked Mali. My idea is that they will be working for a government ministry there while their own military is in a period of transition.

I'm making use of Millenium's End's BlackEagle material for ideas on how the PMC is run.

I would appreciate any advice and good ideas on resources for the following:

1. Local culture
2. Knowledge of the history
3. Knowledge of 90s era military operations in that part of North/West Africa


Thanks in advance!

[swaghauler]

I don't know much about the '90s, but IF you wanted to run a modern-day version check out the video I posted in Leg's video thread below about a French resupply convoy moving in mali. There are also a couple of good videos showing the French and Algerian troops engaging insurgents in both Mali and Nijer. They are worth watching just for the terrain you will be dealing with (think Australian Outback with even less water in the interior of Mali).

[swaghauler]

In addition, IF you are using the V2 or V2.2 rules, you might want to get the PDF of the Special Operations Handbook. It has some cool new rules in it that you might find useful.

[swaghauler]

Here are some videos on Mali that you might find interesting. These involve not only Al Queda (Shiara/Shiites) but also ISIS/DASH (Sunni extremists) in the 2013 time frame. This "Insurgency" continues to this day and Al Queda in Africa was active since the mid-'90s.

https://youtu.be/hz_9KhUku2M

https://youtu.be/QO3iXNtLkug


Swag.

[swaghauler]

In my own MERC campaign set in the 21st Century in the Somalia, Kenya, and Congo regions of East Africa, my PCs were Mercs/PMCs operating privately training African Union Soldiers and taking "side jobs" from various entities in the region. Some of the "employers" who have offered employment include

- A MINING COMPANY that needed a small group of specialists (mostly Geologists) rescued from Al Queda (actually Somalian Al Shabbob) terrorists on the border of the Congo.

- Escort of Specialists and medical supplies to an area of Uganda that was experiencing an outbreak of Ebola for DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS.

- Assisting KENYAN PARK RANGERS with an Ivory poaching and smuggling ring in Kenya and Southern Somalia.

- Providing protection and assistance for a small group of engineers who were needed to build a bridge on a major roadway into the Congo for THE AFRICAN UNION COMMAND.

- Providing rear-area protection for a village near a conflict with ISIS/DASH on behalf of THE AFRICAN UNION.

- Performing mine detection and sweeping after a UN food convoy hit a mine and two people were killed delivering food in Somalia for THE UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION.

- Seeking out and assassinating a terrorist who attacked UN troops in Uganda and then fled to The Congo for The UN PEACEKEEPING BRIGADE OF CENTRAL AFRICA (sponsored by the CIA). This was an "off the books/total deniability op."

- Finding and evacuating a VIP who was wounded by rebels and delivering that VIP to a rendevous point where a MED JET EXPRESS FLIGHT from Kenya was waiting to take him to Europe for a major EUROPEAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.

- Finding and rescuing hostages taken by Somalian pirates in northern Somalia. In other words, a "proof of life" job.

Those are just some of the missions my PCs have undertaken in Africa.

Also, keep in mind that the UN and many European countries consider Mercs to be CRIMINALS and will arrest and prosecute them at the drop of a hat. My PCs have been walking a ragged line between being prosecuted by the Indian General in charge of the UN Mission in Central Africa and being arrested by the various countries they have operated in. The head of the African Union forces has come to their aid (they are on very good terms) and the US has intervened once (although that cost them just like John Wick) but extracted a heavy price (an assassination). They are frequently pushed around by these powerful "patrons" and forced to do dangerous tasks (like guarding a village of 100 from ISIS terrorists) as favors in kind. My players are getting pretty good at the "tit for tat game" and find out who the REAL "power brokers" are the moment they get the gig.

On Missions:

Keep in mind that Mercs are "private citizens" and cannot just waltz into a country with a truckload of arms, ammo, and explosives. This means they will often have to scrounge equipment from inside the country. I once did an executive protection job providing security for two weeks to a group of Christian missionaries who went to Africa to dig a well and build a school. My entire armament consisted of a machete and a Chinese-made 9mmP Tokarev pistol with 3 8-round magazines and a 100-round box of 9mm ammo that we had to hide because the authorities didn't really want us to be armed. AND... we were in an area where ISIS was killing people for being Christian. I quit doing PMC work because of how poorly this whole mission was organized and run. I and my employer Dave did a lot of "improvising" just to get everyone to the damned village. And I did it all for a measly $250 a day after taxes.

[swaghauler]

https://youtu.be/9yCONEdFgWo

Another interesting watch on PMCs.