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النسخة العربية
  • Politics
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  • Tag
  • Sahel
The foreign ministers of the Confederation of Sahel States attend a press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on April 3, 2025. Pavel Bednyakov / AFP

Why Russia is doubling down on diplomacy in the Sahel

Amid growing competition for influence in Africa from the US, Moscow has been deepening military and economic ties there, especially in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. Now, it must deliver.

Sergey Eledinov 09 August 2025
Eduardo Ramon

Putin talks Islamists, gold, and nuclear power with Mali’s leader

A five-day visit to Moscow ended with agreements to cooperate in a range of areas. Mali wants nuclear power and Russian military support, whereas the Kremlin has its eyes on a precious metal.

Sergey Eledinov 05 July 2025
Protesters gather in Bamako on April 12, 2025, to respond to a call from Malian youth organisations to protest "aggression by Algeria," accusing Mali of shooting down a drone belonging to its army on Malian territory. AFP

The drone that shattered Sahelian diplomacy

The incident is a clear signal that it's no longer business-as-usual in the Sahel. New alliances and shifting dynamics are reshaping the region.

Aman Bezreh 04 May 2025
Artisanal miners in the Inchiri region pulling up ore from the bottom of a pit in Akjoujt, Mauritania on September 21, 2020. shutterstock

Mauritania's mineral treasure trove drives its rapid growth

One of the world's poorest nations currently has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. Looking at the map and surveys of its mineral deposits shows why that might continue.

Mohamed Sharki 09 March 2025
This video grab shows Malian security personnel detaining a man after Mali's army said a military training camp in the capital, Bamako, was attacked on September 17 2024. AP

Bamako attacks expose the fragility of AES states

A recent jihadist attack on Mali's capital and a growing threat from northern rebels reportedly getting help from Ukraine begs the question: is the Sahel a new Russia-West battleground?

Aman Bezreh 28 September 2024
Two soldiers raise the flags of Niger and the United States during a ceremony in Agadez in April 2018.

Uranium in the Sahel: As the West steps out, Iran steps in

The US and French withdrawal from the Sahel lets the Russians, Chinese, and Iranians in. Tehran, in particular, will be keen to buy Niger's uranium, despite this being a red line for Washington.

Mohamed Sharki 22 April 2024
Hundreds of newly trained al-Shabab fighters perform military exercises in the Lafofe area some 18 km south of Mogadishu, in Somalia on Feb. 17, 2011. AP

How the Sahel became a breeding ground for terrorists

A huge belt of land dividing the dry Sahara from the tropical savannah has become a playground for mercenaries. An absence of state security, poverty, and a lack of education create the perfect storm.

Abdullah F. Alrebh 18 February 2024
A man blows into a vuvuzela while waving Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso flags as supporters cheer from the stands for artists performing during a concert in support of Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) AFP

Eye on Niger: Who will win in a multipolar contest for Africa influence?

Until the West can prove that it can address the economic and security challenges Sahel countries face, the governance models represented by China or Russia will continue to gain more appeal.

Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy 15 August 2023
  • Popular
  • Editor's Pick
Pep Boatella
Politics

Lebanon’s challenge to disarm Hezbollah

02 September 2025

Al Majalla tackles the latest developments, including signals from Washington and Riyadh, as well as Tehran's red lines

Al Majalla - London
Nash
Business & Economy

Trump’s tariffs are forging a new global order

31 August 2025

As the leaders of India and China convene in Tianjin for the SCO summit, their meeting shines a light on a push by global economies to cement new trade architectures away from the West

Shirley Ze Yu
Displaced Sudanese children gather at a camp near the town of Tawila in North Darfur on February 11, 2025, amid the ongoing war between the army and paramilitary forces. AFP
Politics

The tragedy of Sudan’s forgotten war

02 September 2025

Two-and-a-half years into Sudan's brutal war, atrocities are commonplace, millions have been displaced, and foreign-backed militias profit from chaos

Amgad Fareid Eltayeb
Business & Economy

Syria’s post-Assad energy quandary

01 September 2025

The country now sits at an energy crossroads: will its recovery be anchored in oil and gas, or will it seize the chance to lean into renewables and build something more resilient?

Jesse Marks
Al-Ma'arri in his residence as depicted in a 1965 book Wikipedia Commons
Culture & Social Affairs

Al-Ma’arri’s satirical poetry reimagined for today's readers

02 September 2025

Recent books from Yemen, Egypt, and Syria take a new look at the 10th-century philosopher's famed letter 'The Epistle of Forgiveness', which is said to have inspired Dante's 'Divine Comedy'

Ali Almuqri

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OPINIONS

Trump's sarcastic jab at China hints at deeper fears

Con Coughlin
Con Coughlin

For Afghan quake victims, sympathy came faster than help

Kaswar Klasra
Kaswar Klasra

Algeria’s mineral wealth gives it a new edge

Rabia Abdul Salam

The push to eliminate trans fat is gaining steam

Al Majalla - London
Al Majalla - London
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