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A defection, a blood feud, and overlapping territorial ambitions are pushing JNIM and the Islamic State Sahel Province into direct competition across western Niger. The outcome around the region of Dosso could determine whether Sahelian jihadist violence stays fragmented — or consolidates into a wider regional arc. #Niger #Sahel #JNIM #IslamicState #WestAfricaSecurity #Terrorism #Dosso #RegionalSecurity

A drone strike hit Egypt's Damietta Port on July 29, setting fire to the U.S.-owned Energos Winter floating storage and regasification unit and the nearby GasLog Salem. Security sources examining the wreckage say at least two drones were involved, penetrating several layers of Egypt's air defenses in the process. No one was injured. The port stayed open, with Egypt's Ministry of Transport confirming normal vessel traffic and cargo handling across all terminals. No group has claimed responsibility. Those are the facts. What they mean is the more interesting question, and it has several plausible answers.

In my trip to Europe last month, I complained a lot about theheatwave I experienced in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. No AC in many places, even in some of the famed establishments. But where I was born and raised, North Africa, the region is living through one of its harshest summers in recent memory. A strong high-pressure system has trapped hot air across Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya for weeks, and the consequences have moved well past uncomfortable weather. Power grids are buckling under demand, wildfires are burning across northern Algeria at a pace authorities have rarely recorded, and households and small businesses are absorbing the cost in spoiled food, lost income, and disrupted daily life.

In less than five minute, Arezki Daoud explains why violence in Nigeria cannot be understood through a single religious lens. Christians are targeted, but so are Muslims and many other communities facing insurgency, criminal gangs, and local conflicts. The video provides a factual, balanced context to counter political oversimplifications.#Nigeria #Security #Africa #Geopolitics #Insurgency #Violence #NigeriaNews #Analysis #DavidDaoud #ComplianceStandards #ChristianMuslimRelations #ContextMatters #Flashpoint #ArezkiDaoud

In this episode of Flashpoint, we go beyond the headlines to explore Russia’s quiet shift from Wagner to the Africa Corps in Mali. Under pressure from Algeria, Moscow is phasing out mercenaries in favor of a state-run military presence — a move that is raising alarm among Tuareg leaders in the north.We break down how Algeria influenced this transition, what Wagner's legacy leaves behind, and why Tuareg commanders are now cautiously engaging with jihadist groups like GSIM. As Mali’s conflict shifts, Russia’s role is evolving — but not disappearing.Don't forget to subscribe for weekly insights on the Middle East-Africa region and the Sahel.#RussiaInMali #WagnerGroup #AfricaCorps #MaliCrisis #AlgeriaSahel #Tuareg #GSIM #SahelSecurity #MENAConflicts #FlashpointPodcast #Geopolitics #RussianMilitary #AfricaNews #ConflictZone #SecurityAnalysis

What’s happening to the Fulani in the Sahel isn’t just war — it’s collective punishment. This is the story no one wants to tell.#SahelCrisis #FulaniUnderAttack #WestAfricaConflicts #HumanRightsCrisis #Pulaaku #BurkinaFaso #Mali #EthnicCleansing #Fulani #Mali #Sahel

Week ending 31 May 2025: This week’s roundup covers key developments across North and West Africa: Russia phases out Wagner in Mali, Haftar gains ground in Libya, Mauritania cracks down on migration with EU backing, Guinea cancels over 100 mining permits, Senegal faces record fuel prices despite oil output, Egypt scrambles to manage a deepening energy crisis, and Morocco battles its first major wildfire of the season. For full analysis, visit North-Africa.com and subscribe for weekly regional insights.

With Morocco's King Mohammed VI facing health issues, the topic of royal succession has come to the forefront. This video delves into Morocco's succession process, the King's health challenges as reported by foreign media, and the rising prominence of key figures like Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, advisor Fouad Ali El Himma, and security chief Abdellatif Hammouchi. As Morocco prepares for a potential transition, questions emerge about the future of the monarchy and the direction the young Crown Prince might take. Will Morocco see a shift towards conservatism, or will it continue along a path of modernization? #Morocco #RoyalSuccession #KingMohammedVI #MoroccanMonarchy #CrownPrinceMoulayHassan #MoroccoNews #NorthAfrica #SuccessionPlanning #RoyalFamily #Monarchy

U.S. administrations, whether Republican or Democrat, have historically shown limited focus on Africa, prioritizing counterterrorism over development. With recent geopolitical shifts, some are calling for a more balanced approach, emphasizing stability and economic growth over military presence.

There have been more chatter and speculations about the activities of Russia’s mercenaries, formerly known as the Wagner Group, now reportedly called the Afrika Corps in the Sahel. It is unclear if the name “Afrika Corps” is official, but if so, it certainly confirms that the Russian outfit’s primary focus is indeed on Africa, likely as an arm of Moscow’s Africa policy. For the purpose of this analysis, I will continue using the name Wagner. The Wagner gang is active in many Sahelian regions. We have been hearing that a number of its mercenaries withdrew from Burkina Faso to go back to Russia to counter the ongoing Ukrainian offensive.

Libya is back in the news again, and it is not good news. At the center of it all, once again, are the two types of power struggles we are witnessing. On the one hand, there is a permanent conflict between Libya's rival governments, and on the other hand, there is an intense competition for influence involving foreign powers, who sponsor one rival government against the other.

A preview of what to expect in the upcoming presidential elections in fall in Algeria and Tunisia.

Since 2011, Libya has been engulfed in a bloody civil war after the death of Muammar Gaddafi. Over the years, it was easy to identify the problem:  too many foreign regional players and global powers meddling in Libya’s affairs, explicitly or implicitly seeking to impose their vision on what Libya ought to be through local proxies. These foreign meddlers had no shortage of proxies within Libya. One of them is the so-called internationally recognized Government of National Unity based in Tripoli in the northwest of the country, headed by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. And then in Sirte is the rival entity called the Government of National Stability led by Osama Hamada. The latter is supported by the House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army, both essentially representing eastern Libya. Although from an optic perspective he was appointed by the Libyan House of Representatives as commander of the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army, self-proclaimed Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar is the man who calls the shots in eastern Libya and beyond.  He is the man who many foreign parties like to talk to, despite the existence of two competing Prime Ministers and two legislative bodies.

The visit a few days ago of a US government delegation to Niamey, the capital of Niger, did not go down well with the ruling junta there. Clearly as the junta is paving the way for the Russian military to enter Niger and expand their presence in the Sahel, the Americans are starting to lose patience and they may have shown their frustration in this latest interaction with the Junta.

The #Sahel is now clearly the next big event in Africa's geopolitics. After the complete destruction of #Libya, the same foreign powers that paid for the killing of a nation are now shifting their attention to the Sahel, establishing the bases of another sizeable crisis that will take decades to extinguish.  The Sahel has long been destabilized, at least in recent history. Its post-colonial era has been still dominated by France, despite the Sahelian nations being independent on paper. There have been no improvements for the region, but a fast worsening of the political, social, environmental, and economic conditions. Podcast below and transcript at: https://north-africa.com/zf5r