Sahel

With its mineral wealth and jihadist dilemma, Mali is entertaining both the Americans and the Russians, to see what each can offer, and what they want in return

Infrastructure projects are opening new ways for the country to strengthen its economic presence across the continent

Al Qaeda affiliates are working with Tuareg fighters to overrun Mali, with historic Timbuktu set to fall, and the capital Bamako also encircled. In this part of the world, pragmatism is a necessity.

The Russian president says the next step is shaping a new construct—sovereignty as a service, as a resource, as an exportable value—which can already be seen in Africa

The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Rome Statute shows how international legal institutions are increasingly being seen as instruments of imperialism.

Armed groups are being formed in places like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where state militaries cannot defeat jihadists and separatists alone. Once formed, however, they seldom stay loyal.

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.

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 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.

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.