Category: Authoritarian Regimes & Africa

The Port of Conakry, nestled in Guinea, has emerged as a crucial transit hub, facilitating the transfer of Russian weaponry destined for Mali. This strategic maritime route highlights evolving dynamics in West Africa’s security landscape. Illustrating this supply chain, the cargo vessel Sabetta was observed in March 2026, navigating the English Channel under the escort of a Russian naval vessel, underscoring the direct and protected passage of these vital military shipments. By Ousmane Tandja — Senior correspondent

Actualités Actualités en Centrafrique Twitter Russian mercenaries target food supplies in central african republic’s Haut-Mbomou FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsApp In the Central African Republic, a disturbing shift in operational tactics has emerged within the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, specifically around the town of Zémio. Foreign private military contractors, widely identified as Russian mercenaries, are reportedly now employing a deliberate scorched earth strategy. Their destructive efforts are increasingly focused on vital agricultural granaries and food storage facilities. This development signifies a worrying escalation in hostilities, as the systematic targeting of local food reserves directly threatens the…

Fichier généré le Colonel Assimi Goïta stands as a central figure in Mali, a nation grappling with persistent fragility. His leadership has become synonymous with efforts to steer this West African country through a complex landscape of political shifts and enduring security threats. The narrative of modern Mali is deeply intertwined with the decisions and actions taken under his command, highlighting the intricate dynamics of African politics today. Mali’s recent history has been marked by significant political transitions. The country moved beyond the tenure of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, navigating a…

Chad finds itself grappling with heightened political tensions following the imposition of eight-year prison terms on eight key opposition figures, a development that has sparked considerable controversy across the nation. This significant judicial outcome has drawn sharp criticism, with numerous voices asserting that these judgments signify a concerning curtailment of public freedoms and a potential regression in democratic space within the realm of African politics. Conversely, the presidential party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), is actively advocating for a comprehensive ‘republican dialogue’ among all political participants. This call for dialogue…

Amidst the vast, arid expanse of the Sahel, where conflicts often unfold beyond international scrutiny, Mali is confronting a harsh reality. The nation is now experiencing the severe repercussions of disengaging from key partners who previously stood on the front lines against escalating instability. The recent surge in violence and attacks across the country is neither accidental nor an act of fate. Instead, these incidents represent the foreseeable consequences of a significant political shift, one championed as an assertion of national sovereignty. This proclaimed independence, frequently bolstered by strong anti-French…

“If the Russian mercenaries depart, we will return home.” This sentiment, shared by Mosso*, a Malian refugee in Mauritania, encapsulates the fragile hope for repatriation following significant attacks in late April against the Malian army and its Russian allies from Africa Corps. These coordinated assaults, executed by the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) separatists and jihadists from the Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (Jnim, affiliated with Al-Qaeda), dealt an unprecedented blow to Mali’s ruling junta, in power since a 2020 coup, even claiming the life of…

The security landscape in Mali has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Coordinated offensives by jihadist factions and separatist movements in the northern regions have placed unprecedented pressure on the Malian state. Yet beneath the surface of these military confrontations, a more subtle but decisive shift is unfolding: the conflict’s center of gravity has moved elsewhere. What is unfolding in Mali today transcends a mere battlefield struggle. For over a decade, the Malian crisis has been framed through a security-first lens. Military interventions, supported by successive international partners, have…

The evolving alliance between the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA) in Mali continues to be a critical point of analysis for security experts and regional observers. A key question remains: what is the ultimate trajectory and potential impact of this collaboration on the stability of the Sahelian nation? By Aïcha Abdou — Senior correspondent

PoliticsAfrica Mali’s peace quest: navigating security and political crises PoliticsAfrica Mali finds itself grappling with escalating uncertainty, as armed group attacks intensify daily across the nation. The pressing questions remain: how can this deepening crisis be resolved, and how can the intercommunity coexistence, severely strained by years of conflict, be safeguarded? For years, Mali has been embroiled in a relentless spiral of security and political turmoil. The security crisis escalates with persistent assaults from jihadist and separatist armed groups. A stark reminder of this danger was the recent attack on…

Wagner or africa corps: what’s the lesser evil for central africa? In Central Africa, the debate over foreign security partnerships has reached a critical juncture. President Touadéra’s preference for Wagner clashes with Moscow’s push for the Africa Corps. Both options present a grim reality for civilians: unrelenting violence, systemic crimes, and mass atrocities—only the payment methods differ. The question haunting locals remains: which mercenary force poses the lesser threat? the grim calculus: violence for resources or violence for pay Under Wagner, financial sustainment came from plundering the country’s vast natural…

The widespread, coordinated assaults that struck Mali on April 25, 2026, signify a pivotal moment not just for Bamako and the escalating violence in the Sahel, but for the entire West African sub-region. These events represent a critical turning point, exposing the vulnerabilities within Mali’s current security framework and raising crucial questions for West Africa, particularly Ghana, regarding the inherent dangers of relying too heavily on a singular, external military alliance. What transpired was far from an isolated security incident. It was a synchronized offensive, meticulously planned and executed, targeting…

How Russia’s security involvement is reshaping the Sahel landscape As Moscow strengthens its military ties across the Sahel, its effectiveness in protecting Mali is coming under intense investigation. Following a series of intense offensives by insurgent groups against the Malian Armed Forces, the nation’s military leader, Assimi Goita, recently announced that the government remains in command. He noted that Russian tactical units provided vital aerial assistance to block rebels from seizing strategic sites, including the seat of power in Bamako. Nevertheless, stability in this West African territory remains precarious. The…