Mali’s Coup: Harbinger of Hope or Uncertainty

Security force defections can be key to nonviolent uprisings, but when the military moves to take power the record is much more mixed.

Last year was one of the most dramatic years of nonviolent action in recent memory, with millions taking to the streets to push for greater economic equality, democratic representation, and social justice. Some of the most dramatic uprisings took place in Africa, where longstanding repressive political regimes were forced from power in Sudan and Algeria, and protests over fuel prices in Zimbabwe led to a government crackdown. The recent almost entirely bloodless coup in Mali, in which soldiers abducted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and forced him to resign capped a similar uprising, but is complicated by the role of the military in the president’s ouster and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can Turkey lead the way in regional cooperation on Black Sea gas?

On August 22, Turkey announced the discovery of Tuna-1: 320 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas off its Black Sea coast. Though questions remain as to whether it is economically viable to start production – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested this could happen as early as 2023 – the news could not go unnoticed in other littoral countries of the Black Sea. The discovery may well help spur regional cooperation.

Erdogan nurtures elite mercenary force to rival Russia’s Wagner Group

A close confidant of Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Adnan Tanriverdi claims expertise in all the dark arts of warfare.

In the eyes of some, he is the Islamic world’s most powerful gun-for-hire, a well-connected ex-general with thousands of battle-hardened Syrian mercenaries at his command. A close confidant of Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Adnan Tanriverdi claims expertise in all the dark arts of warfare, from sabotage and counter-insurgency to assassinations.

Europa Centrală și de Est va pierde până la 70% din populație până în 2100. România, în topul țărilor cu cel mai accentuat declin demografic

Europa Centrală și de Est pierde masiv populație. Studii recente efectuate de Uniunea Europeană și de grupuri de oameni de știință de la instituții ori publicații prestigioase, precum Lancet, arată că “hemoragia” din acest sector va duce la o depopulare de anvergură în zonă, țări ca România, Bulgaria ori Ucraina urmând să piardă undeva între 50-70% din populație până în anul 2100.

Special Analyses

Syria: Who’s in control of Idlib?

The northern Syrian province of Idlib is the last remaining stronghold controlled by forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad. Syrian government forces have been pushing into rebel-held territory with the help of Iranian-backed militias and Russian airstrikes. Dozens of towns and villages have been captured by Syrian forces including a key strategic highway, the main economic artery through Syria from north to south, linking Damascus, Homs and Aleppo.

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Jamā’at Nuṣrat al-Islām wa-l-Muslimīn: a propaganda analysis of al-Qaeda’s project for the Sahel

Theme

The lessons that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has learnt after years of activity in the Sahel have crystallised in the creation of Jamā’at Nuṣrat al-Islām wa-l-Muslimīn, or JNIM. This paper analyses JNIM propaganda to shed light on this new alliance and its relationship with the regional organisational structure of AQIM.