First Independent Mena Newspaper
A new report by war crimes watchdog The Sentry exposes the Wagner Group’s deeply destabilizing three-year presence in Mali, revealing a record of military failure, civilian massacres, and political fractures rather than security gains. Deployed in 2022 under a $10 million/month deal with Mali’s junta, the Russian paramilitary force claimed its “mission was accomplished” upon […]
Russia has offered to build a nuclear power plant in Niger, signaling a bold move to displace France’s decades-long dominance in the uranium-rich West African nation. The proposal, announced in July, comes amid escalating tensions between Niger’s military government and Paris, and as Niamey seeks greater control over its natural resources. Despite producing 4% of […]
By shifting its Africa policy from humanitarian aid to commercial diplomacy, the Trump administration has signaled a dramatic reorientation of US engagement in the Sahel. Centered on trade, security cooperation, and access to strategic minerals, this pivot marks a departure from decades of aid-focused partnerships and reflects broader geopolitical recalibrations in a region increasingly courted […]
In a landmark move to boost its influence in Africa, Russia last week hosted its first official military consultations with the defense chiefs of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — members of the recently formalized Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The high-level talks in Moscow, led by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, concluded with the […]
Burkina Faso has received a significant shipment of Chinese-manufactured military equipment, marking a notable step in its armed forces’ modernization and further consolidating Beijing’s growing defense footprint across Africa. The delivery, unveiled via social media and confirmed by defense analysts, includes VN22B wheeled fire support vehicles, PLL-05 120mm self-propelled gun-mortars, and SR5 multiple rocket launch […]
Africa has surpassed a staggering 155,000 deaths linked to militant Islamist groups over the past decade, according to a new report from the Washington-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies. The report highlights an alarming 60% surge in fatalities since 2023, driven primarily by intensifying insurgencies in the Sahel and Somalia. In the past year alone, […]
The Sahel region, long a hub for trade between sub-Saharan Africa and the Maghreb, has now become a hotspot for illicit activities, with organized criminal gangs exploiting the instability caused by political unrest. Smuggling, human trafficking, and drug trade have flourished amid weak governance, fueling violence and displacement. In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the […]
A new commentary by Italy’s Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) warns that European Union migration policies risk failure unless they begin to meaningfully include African perspectives — especially from West Africa. Since the 2015 refugee crisis, the EU has heavily securitized migration, investing in border surveillance, readmission deals, and deterrence measures across the Sahel. […]
Russia has officially transitioned its military operations in the Sahel from the shadowy Wagner Group to a state-controlled force known as Africa Corps, according to a new report by the Dakar-based Timbuktu Institute. Following Wagner’s formal withdrawal from Mali on 6 June 2025, Africa Corps was deployed the next day by Russia’s Ministry of Defense. […]
The European Union and Morocco are negotiating a comprehensive partnership agreement focused on migration management and border control, marking a significant deepening of bilateral relations as Brussels seeks to stabilize irregular migration flows from North Africa. European Commission officials confirmed discussions model the framework on existing agreements with Tunisia, Egypt, and Jordan, providing financial and […]