Benin

Burkina Faso

Cote d'Ivoire

Mali

Niger

Togo

Military & Security

Amadou Koufa, the leader of the Katiba Macina group within al Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), said that the group intends to expand its attacks and territorial control beyond its current focus on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger towards the littoral states along the Gulf of Guinea, according to email correspondence with a France24 journalist published Oct. 23.

Sahel: Top JNIM Leader Pledges to Expand into Littoral West African States

France

Economics

Politics

Burkinabe junta leader Ibrahim Traore accused Cote d'Ivoire and Benin of attempting to destabilize Burkina Faso in coordination with France, Le Monde reported on July 11.

West Africa: Burkina Faso Accuses Cote d’Ivoire and Benin of Destabilization Attempts

Chad

Gabon

Senegal

France is looking to reduce its total number of troops deployed in Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon and Chad from 2,300 to 600 troops, Le Monde reported June 17, citing three French intelligence sources.

France: Country to Reduce Military Presence in Western and Central Africa 

United States

Commander of the U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM, Michael Langley met with Beninese President Patrice Talon to discuss bilateral military cooperation, Radio France Internationale reported on May 2. 

Benin: AFRICOM Commander Visits Benin, Cote d’Ivoire as U.S. Seeks New Drone Bases in West Africa

Ghana

Germany

Italy

The United States agreed to withdraw troops from Niger and vacate its two military facilities in the country, AP reported on April 20.

Niger: U.S. To Withdraw Troops From Niger, Seek New Drone Base in West Africa

Djibouti

Turkey

Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed former minister Jean-Marie Bockel as his new personnel envoy for Africa, Jeune Afrique reported on Feb. 6.

France, Africa: Macron Appoints New Africa Envoy, Hinting at Troop Drawdown

Cabo Verde

Gambia

Guinea Bissau

Liberia

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso formally notified the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, of their intention to withdraw from the regional bloc, Jeune Afrique reported on Jan. 30.

Sahel: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso Send Formal Notification of Exit From ECOWAS 

The United States is seeking to set up drone bases along the West African coast to counter the growth of al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, The Wall Street Journal reported on Jan. 3, citing U.S. and African officials. 

West Africa: U.S. Pursues Drone Bases Along West African Coast to Counter Islamist Progression

Assessments

Sub-Saharan Africa

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Kenya

Sudan

Middle East and North Africa

Libya

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Burkina Faso's junta leader Capt. Ibrahim Traore during a welcoming ceremony at the second Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on July 27, 2023.

Competition against the West will fuel Russia's outreach to Africa, but jihadist expansion in the Sahel will eventually force Moscow into tough policy decisions.

What the Future Holds for Russia in Africa

Angola

Yemen

Europe

India

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) meets with French President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 1, 2023, in Dubai.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Blinken Visits Africa, Macron Visits India

Snapshots

Protesters in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, wave Russian and Burkinabe flags on Oct. 4, 2022. 

Cyber

Many of the drivers that led to the recent coups in the Sahel are present in other African countries, granting Russian-sponsored influence operations more inroads.

Africa's Instability Creates Fertile Ground for Russian Disinformation

South Sudan

Eritrea

Rwanda

Uganda

People flee their neighborhoods in Khartoum, Sudan, amid fighting between the army and paramilitary troops on April 19, 2023. 

Government institutions in eastern and western Africa remain relatively strong, but potential succession crises, simmering unrest and weak leaders still pose latent risks.

Assessing the Risk of Future African Coups, Part 2: West and East Africa

French soldiers of the Barkhane force patrol the streets of Timbuktu, Mali, on Dec. 5, 2021.

In the wake of Niger's coup, France will be compelled to revamp its security strategy in the Sahel and West Africa at large.

What the Niger Crisis Means for France's Counterterrorism Strategy in Africa

Protesters hold placards denouncing ECOWAS on Aug. 3, 2023, in Niamey, Niger. While an intervention probably would topple the Nigerien junta, it could cause a regional conflict, boost jihadists and lead to a weak Nigerian civilian regime.

While an intervention probably would topple the Nigerien junta, it could cause a regional conflict, boost jihadists and lead to a weak Nigerian civilian regime.

How Might an ECOWAS Military Intervention Take Shape in Niger?

Columns

On Geopolitics

Burundi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Mozambique

South Africa

Tanzania

Zimbabwe

Women sit under U.N.-branded cardboard boxes in Semera, Ethiopia, on Feb. 14, 2022, as they wait to be registered by the authorities at a hotel compound hosting civilians fleeing violence. 

Social Issues

GBV is often primarily seen as a women’s and human rights issue. But in sub-Saharan Africa, it is also a key constraint to stable (and democratic) governance, economic growth, and lasting peace.

The Geopolitics of Gender-Based Violence in Africa

Old Leaders in a New Africa

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

The unexpected death ahead of the October vote risks dashing hopes for the country's first peaceful democratic transition of power by reigniting long-held political feuds.

In Ivory Coast, a Presidential Candidate's Death Risks Ending in Violence

France will have a difficult time stanching the spread of jihadists in the Sahel without the support of another big power.

The Jihadist Wars

As Washington considers a pullout from West Africa, Paris is contemplating just how difficult it is to hold back militants on the march.

Amid a U.S. Drawdown, France Strives to Hold Its Line in the Sahel

The scene at a meeting of Ivorian opposition parties on Sept. 14, 2019, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. If the country's October 2020 presidential election opens old wounds, it could usher in instability that militants would be eager to exploit. 

If the country's October 2020 presidential election opens old wounds, it could usher in instability that militants would be eager to exploit.

In Ivory Coast, an Impending Election Portends Instability

Mauritanian soldiers stand guard at their country's border with Mali. 

After years in the Middle East, global militant groups have begun setting up shop in the Sahel region. And that's a problem for the booming economies of nearby Ivory Coast and Ghana. 

As Terrorists Settle Into the Sahel, West Africa Prepares for Battle

A new International Criminal Court ruling will likely free former President Laurent Gbagbo, opening the door for him to return to his country's politics and attempt to regain his former job.

Ivory Coast: An ICC Ruling Revives the Ghost of a President Past

SITUATION REPORTS

Sahel: Top JNIM Leader Pledges to Expand into Littoral West African States

West Africa: Burkina Faso Accuses Cote d’Ivoire and Benin of Destabilization Attempts

France: Country to Reduce Military Presence in Western and Central Africa

Benin: AFRICOM Commander Visits Benin, Cote d’Ivoire as U.S. Seeks New Drone Bases in West Africa

Niger: U.S. To Withdraw Troops From Niger, Seek New Drone Base in West Africa

France, Africa: Macron Appoints New Africa Envoy, Hinting at Troop Drawdown

Sahel: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso Send Formal Notification of Exit From ECOWAS

West Africa: U.S. Pursues Drone Bases Along West African Coast to Counter Islamist Progression

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