Bulgaria, North Macedonia Should Enhance Relations

With progress still fragile and vulnerable to Russian interference, the US and EU must remain deeply engaged, advancing Euro-Atlantic integration.

International mediation was indispensable to the recent deal between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, allowing the start of EU accession talks between Skopje and Brussels.

North Macedonia’s Democratic Resilience Deserves Proper Recognition

Western discussion of the country and the Western Balkans too often focuses on stereotypes about ethnic violence and intolerance – obscuring the real achievements.

Western coverage of Balkan politics too often focuses on the region’s challenges. Often this discussion is tied up with stereotypes about intolerance or violence. These stereotypes have been called “Balkanist” by a number of regional scholars. Discussion of the region in these terms obscures its successes.

Arms trafficking from Libya to Niger is back; Nigeria, others should be concerned

Countries in the Sahel need to collaborate to stem the tide of weapons flowing through Niger.

Arms and ammunition seizures by security forces in Niger’s Agadez and Tahoua regions between January 2021 and February 2022 helped dismantle trafficking networks in the country. This is positive, but what do the seizures say about the extent of the problem? Is arms trafficking from Libya to countries in the south on the rise again?