The country has all the ingredients that enflame tensions: acute social inequality, an unformed national identity and myriad ethnic groups, all of which were exacerbated by colonial rule

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.

There are political and military inferences from last month's battle. Whether on air defences, sabotage operations, or equipment maintenance, ministries will be making notes and changing plans.

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.

The UK this week pledged to spend billions more on its military readiness as part of a trend sweeping across the continent. The post-Cold War peace dividend now seems like a distant memory.

Shortly after Ukrainian drones destroyed or damaged dozens of Russian long-range bombers, the two warring parties sat down on the Bosphorus, discussing peace for the second time in two weeks.

Moscow's foreign minister has earned a reputation for being uncompromising and brusque but has also begrudgingly won the respect of many, even foes, for his professionalism

Washington and Moscow broke the ice in Riyadh in more ways than one, but Russia maintains the advantage in the world's northernmost region

These days, Cairo looks more to Beijing and Moscow than to Washington, a policy change with its roots in the toppling of Hosni Mubarak more than a decade ago.