Vol 66 No 12 | MALI Jihadists hit harder as junta loses focus 13th June 2025 A surge in attacks on army bases leaves security forces overstretched and civilians more vulnerable Grim casualty figures from recent insurgent attacks on army garrisons across central and northern Mali have exposed the cost of junta leader, General Assimi Goïta’s decision to reject...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 10 | MALI After extending General Goïta’s term until 2030, the junta bans protests 12th May 2025 In line with the juntas in Niger and Burkina Faso, Mali’s ruling soldiers are shutting civilian politics and extending their tenure Facing public opposition to General Assimi Goïta’s plans to stay in power until 2030, his military junta has suspended all political activities across the country ahead of protests... READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 9 | BURKINA FASOMALINIGER The juntas join the gold rush 2nd May 2025 On 23 April, Niger advanced its mineral development by partnering with Emirati firm Suvarna Royal Gold Trading LLC. The deal, formalised in Niamey, establishes Royal Gold Niger SA,...
Vol 66 No 6 | BURKINA FASOMALINIGER Security tops the Ecowas agenda 21st March 2025 Above all, civilian governments in the regional bloc want cooperation with the military leaders against jihadist insurgents Through his visits to the military rulers of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso in the week ending 14 March, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama may have helped thaw...
Vol 66 No 3 | BURKINA FASOMALINIGERRUSSIA Sahel-exit tests western miners and Russia’s military muscle 29th January 2025 Everybody is losing as the Sahelian juntas break with the Ecowas bloc – except for the jihadi militias The crowds in Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey celebrating their countries’ break with the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) on 29 January belie the...
Vol 66 No 2 | BURKINA FASOMALINIGERMINING Sahel’s juntas challenge western miners in geopolitical gold rush 17th January 2025 The fight over one of the world’s biggest gold mines points to the changing balance of power in the region The stand-off between General Assimi Goïta’s military regime and Canada’s Barrick Gold has reached a critical point with the mining conglomerate suspending work at the Loulou-Gounkoto complex after...
DISPATCHES Vol 66 No 2 | MALI Bullion for Bamako 14th January 2025 Barrick Gold says it will suspend mining operations in the country after the government seized gold stocks from the company’s Loulo-Gounkoto operation Canadian mining company Barrick Gold has pulled the plug on operations at its Loulo-Gounkoto complex in Mali after the Malian government seized an estimated 3 metric tonnes of... READ FOR FREE
DISPATCHES Vol 65 No 17 | MALISAHEL Kyiv counts diplomatic costs of ambush boasts 14th August 2024 Bamako has cut ties with Ukraine, accusing it of complicity in an attack that killed Malian soldiers and 50 Russian Wagner operatives The Cold War politics in the Sahel has been given fresh heat after Mali announced it was severing ties with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of involvement in a deadly... READ FOR FREE
Vol 65 No 16 | MALI Farewell to the kora master 1st August 2024 Toumani Diabaté, one of Mali’s greatest kora players, died on 19 July ending a career spanning 45 years. He was 58. His global reputation debuted with the release...
Vol 65 No 14 | BURKINA FASOMALINIGER The juntas dig in as instability worsens 4th July 2024 Burkina’s leader Captain Traoré wants five more years in power but his army is losing badly against the jihadis The standing of Burkina Faso’s transitional leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in September, has hit a new low. But public opinion is the least of his...