All articles tagged with #jihadist insurgency
Russia’s Africa Corps, now under Moscow’s defense ministry, has shifted toward protecting allied Sahel governments in Niger (and likely Mali and Burkina Faso), aiding loyalist forces after mutinies and strengthening Moscow’s political clout in the region. Analysts say these interventions bolster regime survival but do not solve the jihadist insurgency, and Ukraine’s war limits Russia’s ability to expand further in Africa.
Mutinous soldiers attacked Niamey’s airport and the presidential palace, triggering hours of gunfire and explosions; loyalist forces were retaking sites by morning, but the airport remained contested with the broader situation unclear, highlighting internal threats to President Tiani’s rule amid Niger’s ongoing jihadist conflict and regional security tensions.
Militant groups in Mali have set fire to trucks and imposed a blockade on key trade routes near Kayes, threatening regional trade and Mali's economy, with concerns of an escalation in the jihadist insurgency and potential expansion into neighboring countries.
Burkina Faso's military government, led by Capt Ibrahim Traoré, has extended its rule by five years, allowing Traoré to contest the next presidential election. This decision follows a national consultation and an amended charter, citing the need to address ongoing jihadist insurgency before holding elections. The move aligns Burkina Faso with neighboring Mali, which has also extended military rule. The international community has criticized Burkina Faso for human rights violations in its fight against Islamist militants.