Tag "Mali"
Will France withdraw from Mali?
The internal affairs of Mali have been closely watched by France since the Malian government requested defence from armed groups in the North, leading to the 2013 French intervention. France has since invested large amounts of aid in developing the Malian army and state infrastructures to regain the trust of a large segment of the alienated rural population. Yet, the state-building element of the mission, as has often been the case during the 21st century, seems to not be producing the necessary effects, perhaps – along with the more recent actions of the Malian government – opening the door for a complete French withdrawal.
Mali’s “Fresh Start” is Becoming a Pipe Dream as Colonel Malick Diaw is Elected Head of Interim Legislature
The Malian coup d’état, that came to fruition on the 18th August last year, was motivated by a need to end the corruption and bad governance that had brought the country to standstill and to address the instability that continues in the north of the country. In the aftermath, the Comité Nationale pour le Salut de Peuple (CNSP) followed through, conducting consultations with key stakeholders to develop its charter for transition. It vowed to return the country to civilian leadership within a “reasonable timeframe”. Nevertheless, as the CNSP has become comfortable in its position of power, cracks are beginning to show. Army personnel dominate the interim government and even with ECOWAS bearing down, the hope of a more transparent and democratic government is beginning to dissipate.
What do Divergent Security Interests between the Malian and French Governments mean for the Future of French Operations in the Sahel
Growing divides in security approaches between the Malian and French governments are making security objectives harder to achieve in the Sahel. Recent developments are likely to complicate the issues further, as the new prime minister Moctar Ouane calls for more negotiations with armed groups in the north.
Conflict Moves West in Mali, Towards the Senegalese Border
The Katiba Macina, a jihadist group originating in the Mopti region in Mali, has started in the recent months to settle in the Kayes region, in the West of Mali. This situation threatens to extend the Malian unrest into neighboring countries, particularly Senegal, which has been safe up to now from attacks by jihadist brigades.
Russia’s Strategy in Africa
Rumors of Russian involvement in Mali have gained momentum since 2018. Russia has been accused of backing the coup that took place in August 2020, orchestrated by high ranking members of the Malian army. These officers had in fact returned a week before the coup from two months’ training in Russia. The coincidence was enough for analysts to link Assimi Goita, leader of the new Junta, to the Russian government. Even if this link has yet to be proven, the growing connection between Russia and sub-Saharan countries is threatening the balance of power in the region.
Jihadism’s staying power in North Africa
The North Africa-based al-Qaeda affiliate AQIM has recently undertaken a variety of organizational reforms apparently aimed at centralizing the group’s decision-making and control. These reforms will likely help make it
Why “Military First” is the wrong approach in the G5 Sahel
In the past week the United States, France and Russia pledged to increase their financial and military support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force, which consists of Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad and Mauritania, to fight terrorism and organized crime in the region. However, military efforts without a wider development strategy could just aggravate the security risks.
Malian blues: the issue of the Tuareg
In 2013, native and French military forces celebrated the relatively successful ousting of Tuareg rebels and Islamist factions in Mali. Two years later in June 2015, Mali bowed to international
Weapons exports fuel instability in the MENA region
In its latest report, Amnesty International (AI) details the proliferation of small arms and heavy weaponry in the MENA region through the poorly regulated sale of advanced weapons to fragile
Investing in Mali? An in-depth look at Malian political and security risk
Mali has in recent years flipped from being a heralded model of democracy to being mired in civil war. The history of the large, arid country in the western Sahel
