First Independent Mena Newspaper
Three Chadian journalists remain in pre-trial custody after being arrested earlier this month on charges of colluding with Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group, prompting warning about the government’s “broader crackdown” on critical voices in the landlocked Sahel country. The journalists, including Radio France Internationale’s Chad correspondent Olivier Monodji, are accused of espionage, conspiracy, and undermining Chad’s […]
Following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the collapse of the Wagner Group, Russia has recalibrated its strategy in Africa, maintaining influence through a mix of rebranding, expansion, and diversification, according to a new study by The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. The study by the Geneva-based organization notes that Moscow has quickly reassured […]
The United States has completed the withdrawal of its military personnel from Niger’s Air Base 101 near the West African nation’s capital, Niamey, which comes ahead of its planned exit from another major drone base near the desert city of Agadez. A joint statement by Niger’s Defense Ministry and the US Department of Defense confirmed […]
Bahrain’s King has urged Moscow to play a role in peacekeeping in the Middle East, while also Uganda and the Comoros have have recently held discussions with Russia on security issues affecting Africa and the possibility of resolving conflicts in the region, reflecting Russia’s expanding influence on the continent. During a recent official two-day visit […]
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the chief of Niger’s military junta, Abdourahmane Tiani, had an important phone call on Tuesday (26 March), the Kremlin has revealed, adding that both men discussed “security cooperation” and security concerns in the Sahel region. The Russian leader and the chairman of Niger’s National Council also reportedly spoke about “strengthening […]
Russian President Vladimir Putin has zoomed in on his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and his vocal criticism of Moscow’s war on Ukraine, arguing that this “emotional reaction” by the French president is due to “resentment” at losing allies in Africa to the Kremlin. In an interview published on Wednesday (13 March), Putin said heightened Russian […]
After Wagner Group’s collapse in mid 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently launched a new Africa Corps, with 100 military staff officially deployed to Burkina Faso, with the aim to continue serving Russia’s interests on the continent — unofficially. While the war in Ukraine continues unabated, the depth of the ties between Burkina Faso […]
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy has called on the Biden administration to be cautious in engaging Algeria as such approach does not guarantee it will shift away from Moscow and Beijing or defuse tension with Rabat. In an analysis focusing on U.S. policy in North Africa, the Institute experts Sabina Henneberg and Amina […]
Nabil Ammar, Tunisia’s Foreign Minister, is expected in Moscow on September 26 at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, in a bid to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Webdo Tunis reports, citing the Foreign ministry. “The visit will provide an opportunity to support African efforts to bring an end to the […]
The Russian invasion of Ukraine and Moscow’s withdrawal in July from the Black Sea Grain Initiative has driven up global food and commodity prices, severely affecting farming sectors in countries all across Africa. Russia’s withdrawal from a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that allowed the safe passage of Ukrainian grain through the […]