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Militia abuses may increase in Niger

Location:

NIGER

This has sparked the growth of ethnic Zarma self-defence militias, known locally as ‘zankai’. These militias reflect broader communal self-defence efforts, often arising because…

Mali peace accord needs further rebel buy-in

Location:

MALI

The clashes come shortly after the government on May 15 signed a new agreement -- the Algiers Accord -- with northern armed groups. The major Tuareg rebel groups allied under the…

Mali's junta faces obstacles to north-south war

Location:

MALI

This followed the withdrawal of the UN’s MINUSMA peacekeeping contingent from the town. The fighting was followed later in the month by government airstrikes in the northern Kidal…

Mali's northern war may become protracted

Location:

MALI

Kidal has served as the political capital of various northern armed groups since 2012. Its capture follows the August outbreak of hostilities between the ruling junta and the…

Central Mali will face rising intercommunal tensions

Location:

MALI

Ethnic and jihadist violence in central Mali.

New Mali PM indicates confidence on northern talks

Location:

MALI

MALI: New PM indicates confidence on northern talks

Algeria may struggle to expand influence in the Sahel

Location:

SAHEL

Tebboune argues that Mali's money would be better spent on economic development and initiatives to integrate northern Malians better into state institutions. Algeria is concerned…

Mali may struggle to reinvigorate its peace process

Location:

MALI

However, the current peace process appears to offer little prospect of overcoming the challenges faced in the fractious north and increasingly violent centre.

Menaka fighting shows the limits of the Malian state

Location:

MALI

The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) appears to have the upper hand in its struggle against a coalition comprising two pro-government militias and the Armed Forces of…

Niger self-defence groups will hasten violence spiral

Location:

NIGER

Such attacks reinforce the sense of vulnerability and desire revenge that give rise to such self-defence groups in the first place, and contribute to a downward spiral in security…