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Mali
Negotiations with jihadists turn into game of bluff

The opening of negotiating channels with jihadist groups has become a muddled affair: the jihadists fear their unity will be undermined, the Malian president is sceptical and France is already losing interest. [...]

Published on 18/03/2020 at 04:30 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

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Politics

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Amadou Koufa
Az-Zallaqa
Barkhane
Forces armees maliennes
G5 Sahel
Haut conseil islamique du Mali
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
Iyad ag Ghali
Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin
Katiba Macina
Mahmoud Dicko
Radio France internationale
Tiebile Drame
Walid al-Sahraoui

Mali
General Harouna Samaké, the army's well-connected new boss

After serving as Mali's ambassador in Moscow, General Harouna Samaké was recalled by junta leader Assimi Goïta to head the army. He will be helped in his new job by his wide-ranging connections within the Malian armed forces.

Subscribers only Defence 14.03.2023

Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) soldiers, near Gourma in Mali.

Spotlight | Mali
Northern Mali: the junta's secret dealings with jihadists and local kingpins

The junta's control over turbulent northern Mali has waned, if not evaporated entirely. It has failed to impose its rule in Timbuktu and Gao, and has forged alliances with figures involved in drug trafficking and linked to jihadist movements.

Subscribers only Politics 23.12.2022

Activists of a Tuareg political-military movement in northern Mali in 2020.

Africa
Muhammadu Sanusi II, the powerful new Fulani 'president'

The former Emir of Kano and newly-elected head of the powerful Fulani association Tabital Pulaaku International, can boast one of the most extensive address books in the region. He plans to meet several west African presidents in the coming weeks.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.09.2022

Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, and Chairman of the Black Rhino Group speaks on the first day of the Mining Indaba 2016 Conference on 8 February 2016 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town.

Mauritania
Ghazouani tries to maintain 'Mauritanian exception' as Islamist attacks escalate in the region

Mauritania is the only country in the G5 Sahel bloc not to have had an Islamist attack in more than ten years. It is closely monitoring Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups operating on its border with Mali.

Subscribers only Politics 30.06.2021

The Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

Sahel
Following Sophie Pétronin's release, Colombia asks France to help free Sister Gloria

President Ivan Duque has ordered his diplomats in Europe to try to advance the case of Colombian nun Sister Gloria Cecilia Narváez, who was kidnapped by jihadists in February 2017 in Mali.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 16.10.2020

Nun Gloria Cecilia Narváez was kidnapped on 7 February 2017 in Timbuktu, Mali.

Mali, United Kingdom
Barkhane's British contingent worried about Mali developments

Operation Newcombe, the British deployment to Operation Barkhane, is gathering information on the political and social situation in Mali to better understand the evolving security environment in the aftermath of the coup that led to President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta's resignation.

Subscribers only Defence, Politics 07.09.2020

Sahel
Macron to attend G5 Sahel summit in Nouakchott on 30 June

French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to the Mauritanian capital [...]

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.06.2020

African Union
Will UEMOA stump up for AU's 3,000-strong force in Sahel?

In recent weeks, the commissioner for peace and security Smaïl Chergui has been seeking to beef up the African Union's counter-terrorism capacities in the Sahel. This 3,000-strong force is set to be financed by UEMOA.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.05.2020

Sub-saharan Africa
Barkhane: General Marc Conruyt to take over from Pascal Facon

The current deputy director of the French army's human resources policy department, General Marc Conruyt, is set to replace Pascal Facon as head of Operation Barkhane this summer.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 04.05.2020

Mali
Abu Dhabi takes its Streit armoured vehicles into the Sahel

The United Arab Emirates has set up a veritable air bridge to deliver 30 Streit armoured troop transport vehicles to the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) in Bamako. By donating these vehicles to the African country, Abu Dhabi is not only trying to reduce Qatar's influence over Mali.

Subscribers only Politics 24.01.2020

Third delivery of Typhoon armored vehicles to Bamako on January 23, 2020.

Central Africa, West Africa
Paris plans to downsize Operation Barkhane

Following the death of 13 French soldiers in Mali on 25 November, Paris is bringing forward plans, under consideration since September, to downsize its operations.

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Document | West Africa
Enduring turmoil in Sahel

Stamping out the terrorist threat is proving to be difficult. Here's why.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 29.05.2019

Map of the main terrorist attacks in Sahel these past few years.

In Focus | Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Kabore follows Compaore's example and talks to the Jihadists

Burkinabe president Roch Kabore, who is receiving generous subsidies to help him combat the radical groups operating on his borders, is conducting parallel negotiations with the very Jihadists he is supposed to be fighting. In so doing, he is following the example set by his predecessor, Blaise Compaore, whose entourage never broke contact with the armed Jihadi groups.

Subscribers only Defence, Politics 22.04.2019

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Amadou Koufa
Az-Zallaqa
Barkhane
Forces armees maliennes
G5 Sahel
Haut conseil islamique du Mali
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
Iyad ag Ghali
Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin
Katiba Macina
Mahmoud Dicko
Radio France internationale
Tiebile Drame
Walid al-Sahraoui

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Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo
The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

Mali
Negotiations with jihadists turn into game of bluff

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Mali
General Harouna Samaké, the army's well-connected new boss

Spotlight | Mali
Northern Mali: the junta's secret dealings with jihadists and local kingpins

Africa
Muhammadu Sanusi II, the powerful new Fulani 'president'

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Ghazouani tries to maintain 'Mauritanian exception' as Islamist attacks escalate in the region

Sahel
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Barkhane's British contingent worried about Mali developments

Sahel
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African Union
Will UEMOA stump up for AU's 3,000-strong force in Sahel?

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Barkhane: General Marc Conruyt to take over from Pascal Facon

Mali
Abu Dhabi takes its Streit armoured vehicles into the Sahel

Central Africa, West Africa
Paris plans to downsize Operation Barkhane

Document | West Africa
Enduring turmoil in Sahel

In Focus | Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Kabore follows Compaore's example and talks to the Jihadists

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About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

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Mali Negotiations with jihadists turn into game of bluff

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Mali General Harouna Samaké, the army's well-connected new boss

Spotlight | Mali Northern Mali: the junta's secret dealings with jihadists and local kingpins

Africa Muhammadu Sanusi II, the powerful new Fulani 'president'

Mauritania Ghazouani tries to maintain 'Mauritanian exception' as Islamist attacks escalate in the region

Sahel Following Sophie Pétronin's release, Colombia asks France to help free Sister Gloria

Mali, United Kingdom Barkhane's British contingent worried about Mali developments

Sahel Macron to attend G5 Sahel summit in Nouakchott on 30 June

African Union Will UEMOA stump up for AU's 3,000-strong force in Sahel?

Sub-saharan Africa Barkhane: General Marc Conruyt to take over from Pascal Facon

Mali Abu Dhabi takes its Streit armoured vehicles into the Sahel

Central Africa, West Africa Paris plans to downsize Operation Barkhane

Document | West Africa Enduring turmoil in Sahel

In Focus | Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Kabore follows Compaore's example and talks to the Jihadists

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo
The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

Mali
Negotiations with jihadists turn into game of bluff

Mali
General Harouna Samaké, the army's well-connected new boss

Spotlight | Mali
Northern Mali: the junta's secret dealings with jihadists and local kingpins

Africa
Muhammadu Sanusi II, the powerful new Fulani 'president'

Mauritania
Ghazouani tries to maintain 'Mauritanian exception' as Islamist attacks escalate in the region

Sahel
Following Sophie Pétronin's release, Colombia asks France to help free Sister Gloria

Mali, United Kingdom
Barkhane's British contingent worried about Mali developments

Sahel
Macron to attend G5 Sahel summit in Nouakchott on 30 June

African Union
Will UEMOA stump up for AU's 3,000-strong force in Sahel?

Sub-saharan Africa
Barkhane: General Marc Conruyt to take over from Pascal Facon

Mali
Abu Dhabi takes its Streit armoured vehicles into the Sahel

Central Africa, West Africa
Paris plans to downsize Operation Barkhane

Document | West Africa
Enduring turmoil in Sahel

In Focus | Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Kabore follows Compaore's example and talks to the Jihadists