When the US became involved in both world wars in the 20th century, all sides knew the outcome would be in favor of US allies. However, they had no idea of the length nor could they guess that the terms of the Paris Peace Treaty of 1919 would be the first long-term cause of WWII, any more than anyone could predict that WWII would end with the US dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
While international news headlines remain largely focused on the war in Ukraine, little attention is given to the horrific consequences of the war which are felt in many regions around the world. Even when these repercussions are discussed, disproportionate coverage is allocated to European countries, like Germany and Austria, due to their heavy reliance on Russian energy sources.
Why the Conflict in Ukraine Is a Disaster for the Poor of This Planet
In 1919, the renowned British economist John Maynard Keynes wrote The Economic Consequences of the Peace, a book that would prove controversial indeed. In it, he warned that the draconian terms imposed on defeated Germany after what was then known as the Great War — which we now call World War I — would have ruinous consequences not just for that country but all of Europe. Today, I’ve adapted his title to explore the economic consequences of the (less than great) war now underway — the one in Ukraine, of course — not just for those directly involved but for the rest of the world.
SOFREP’s Guy McCardle had recently reported on evacuations being underway at Mariupol’s Azovstal Steel Plant complex after months of heavy bombing from the Russian forces. Today, over 150 women and children who hid in underground bunkers have successfully reached safety in Zaporizhzhia as per the ICRC. According to reports, it was the first time the civilians saw the light in 2 months.
A peculiar Ukrainian military buggy has been spotted being used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to fight off Russian tanks. How do we know that these all-terrain vehicles are blowing up tanks? Well, it has a Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile mounted on top of it. The resourceful Ukrainians are at it again with their unique weapons, with this Stugna-P mounted on a buggy.
The European Commission has announced its plan to eliminate regional imports of Russian oil gradually. The ban is part of the sixth proposed European Union sanction package imposed on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine.
Webinaire
7 avril 2022
Le Centre d’études stratégiques de l’Afrique organisera un webinaire qui examinera en profondeur les origines, les objectifs et les moteurs de la coalition Jama’at Nusrat Al Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), affiliée à Al-Qaïda, au Sahel. L’analyse tiendra compte de la dynamique de la composition du groupe, de ses objectifs au fil du temps, ainsi que des facteurs politiques et économiques qui lui ont permis de persister.
La perte de munitions et d’autres matériels létaux par les forces armées et les opérations de paix africaines est un facteur clé du maintien des groupes militants à l’origine de l’instabilité sur le continent.
En l’espace d’une semaine, en février 2021, des militants de l’État islamique en Afrique de l’Ouest (EIAO) ont envahi les bases militaires nigérianes des villes de Marte et de Dikwa, dans l’État de Borno. Plus de 20 soldats ont été tués dans ces attaques. Les militants ont probablement saisi au moins une demi-douzaine de véhicules et des centaines d’armes. Les incidents ont été importants mais non exceptionnels.
Les groupes islamistes militants du Sahel menacent les zones frontalières des États côtiers où les injustices vécues par communautés d’éleveurs peuvent constituer un point d’entrée pour les intérêts extrémistes.
La violence des groupes islamistes militants au Burkina Faso, au Mali et dans l’ouest du Niger a augmenté de 70 % en 2021. Cela poursuit une escalade et une propagation ininterrompues d’événements violents dans la région depuis 2015. Initialement centrée au Mali, l’activité des groupes islamistes militants s’est progressivement déplacée vers le Burkina Faso, où se produisent désormais 58 % de tous les événements violents au Sahel.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged the international community to “fully invest” to help impoverished Niger fight jihadist insurgents threatening the government in Niamey and neighbouring countries.