Strategic Implications for Africa from Russia’s Invasion in Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine is a wake-up call to the implications of Russia’s attempts to export its governance model to Africa—with sobering consequences for African sovereignty and stability.

It’s commonly held that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s objective for invading Ukraine is to install a puppet regime that is pliable to Moscow’s interests. If so, this would be consistent with the approach Russia has taken with its forays into Africa in recent years.

Nigerian Navy Maritime Operations: International Maritime Bureau (IMB) exits Nigeria from piracy attack prone countries, award’s 77 per cent success to Nigeria

Following the significant decline in piracy attacks in Nigerian waters put at 77 per cent occasioned by the Nigerian Navy’s increased counter security operations against Maritime criminality, oil theft and other attacks, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has exited Nigeria from its Piracy List.

Mali to investigate disappearance of Mauritanians on its soil

Mali said it would investigate the disappearance of several Mauritanians on its territory, which has caused a diplomatic row between the two West African countries.

Mauritania summoned Mali’s ambassador on Tuesday “to protest the recent criminal acts perpetrated by regular Malian forces against our defenceless and innocent citizens in Malian territory”, according to a foreign ministry statement.

West African Coastal Terror Attacks: Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

Violent extremism is escalating in West Africa’s coastal states. This is terrifying for citizens but is just the tip of the insurgency iceberg. Under the surface lies a covert network that ensures terrorism continues in the region. Evidence is emerging that jihadists’ activities within and through coastal states are enabling them to fund, staff and run the logistics they need to thrive.

Russia Reveals Details on US-Funded Biological Labs in Ukraine

“The U.S. planned to conduct work on pathogens of birds, bats, and reptiles in Ukraine in 2022,” Konashenkov said.

On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov denounced that the U.S. financed Ukranian biolabs to carry out experiments with bat coronavirus samples.

Islamic State Announces Death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi and Appointment of New ‘Caliph’

The following post is my translation of the audio message “And among them are those who have fulfilled and died,” released today by the Islamic State’s al-Furqan Media, featuring a speech by the group’s new spokesman ‘Abu Omar al-Muhajir,’ who confirms not only the death of the previous leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi but also the death of the previous spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurashi. In a speech that very much recalls 2019, he adds that the Majlis Shura did not delay to implement Abu Ibrahim’s counsel and appoint a new leader as caliph: Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (whose name circulated among some Islamic State supporters in the aftermath of Abu Ibrahim’s death). He urges the Muslims and mujahideen to pledge allegiance to the new caliph.

Conversation with Mr. Patrick Achi, the Prime Minister for the Ivory Coast

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This Africa Center event serves as a public event to discuss the economic situation of the African continent in a post-Covid context.

While international development organizations stress African resilience, this event will take place during the Ivory Coast’s Prime Minister’s visit in Washington D.C. this month. This event will feature remarks from Prime Minister Achi about the Ivory Coast Vision 2030. Vision 2030 is a large development strategy that aims at improving the business environment, boosting the role of the private sector, and fostering job creation.

Appartenance du Mali à la CEDEAO et à l’UEMOA : Les enjeux

La Conférence des Chefs d’Etats de la CEDEAO et de l’UEMOA a décrété un embargo contre la République du Mali, à l’issue de son sommet extraordinaire conjoint qui s’est tenu le 9 janvier 2022 à Accra (Ghana).

Cet embargo porte entre autres sur la fermeture des frontières entre les pays membres de la CEDEAO et le Mali, la suspension des échanges commerciaux à l’exception des denrées de première nécessité et le blocage des avoirs de l’Etat au niveau de la BCEAO et des banques commerciales. La présente note tente d’élucider les enjeux de l’appartenance du Mali à la CEDEAO et à l’UEMOA et d’explorer les solutions pour atténuer les effets de l’embargo sur le pays.

Mauritaniens « disparus » au Mali : « pas de preuve, à ce stade, contre les FAMa »

Le président de la transition du Mali et le Président mauritanien ont eu un entretien téléphonique ce mercredi 9 mars 2022. Cet échange fait suite aux accusations des autorités mauritaniennes sur des disparitions présumées de mauritaniens au Mali. Dans un communiqué, les autorités maliennes affirment qu’à ce stade « aucune preuve ne met en cause les forces armées maliennes ».