Mali: Bamako Under Siege - Why Mali's Army Is Struggling to Break the Jihadist Blockade of the Capital

When the military overthrew the democratically elected government in Mali in 2020, coup leader General Assimi Goita promised to root out jihadists in the north of the country. Mali… Read more »

Sudan: Peace in Sudan? 3 Reasons Why Mediation Hasn't Worked So Far

Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, sparked by a power struggle between the two parties. The war… Read more »

Mali: Jihadists Have Blockaded Mali's Capital. What's At Stake

A coalition of jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaida have laid siege to landlocked Mali's capital. For over a month, they have attacked convoys supplying Bamako with fuel,… Read more »

Mali: Why an Armed Group Linked to Al-Qaida Is Gaining Ground in Mali

Mali's military regime is coming under increasing pressure from Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an armed group linked to al-Qaida that now controls large swathes of… Read more »

Africa: Taking Down Malaria's Bodyguards - Scientists Target Parasite's Secret Defence System

Malaria remains one of the world's most devastating infectious diseases, claiming more than half a million lives each year. In Africa, the illness is mostly caused by a parasite… Read more »

Madagascar: Madagascar Protests - How Ousted President Andry Rajoelina's Urban Agenda Backfired

The youth-led protests that eventually brought down Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina were sparked, in part, by his attempt to use large-scale urban infrastructure projects as… Read more »

Madagascar: Madagascar Coup - Why Turning a Blind Eye to an Unpopular President Weakens Regional Bodies

What began in late September as Madagascar's student demonstrations over crippling electricity outages and water shortages quickly evolved into broader demands for political… Read more »

Nigeria: Should Boko Haram Fighters Be Given a Second Chance in Society? We Asked 2,000 Young Nigerians

Across the world, the question of how to deal with former fighters remains urgent. From Nigeria and Iraq to Syria and the Sahel, governments are wrestling with how to bring people… Read more »

Madagascar: Madagascar's Military Power Grab Shows Africa's Coup Problem Isn't Restricted to the Sahel Region

Those who rise to power through a coup often fall by the same means. Read more »

Nigeria: Nigeria's Boko Haram Rehabilitation Efforts Ignore the Emotional Trauma of Soldiers - Why This Matters

Since 2009, Boko Haram has waged one of the deadliest insurgencies in Africa. Concentrated in north-east Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin, the group has killed more than 35,000… Read more »

Nigeria: Nigeria's Use of Soldiers for Civilian Tasks Comes With Serious Costs - How to Prevent This

Nigerians have experienced what it means for their government to be controlled by the military. Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: Joseph Kabila Is On Trial for Treason in the DR Congo. What the Case Against the Former President Is All About

The Congolese military court has accused former president Joseph Kabila of treason, corruption, war crimes and supporting the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group. During court… Read more »

Chad: Military Force Isn't the Solution for Lake Chad Basin Conflict - the Key Is Rebuilding Local Economies

Fatima, a fisherwoman on Lake Chad, sets out at dawn not just to make a living from the shrinking waters, but to pay a "tax". Before casting her net, she must hand over part of her… Read more »

Cameroon: Cameroon's Conflict Is Part of a Bigger Trend - Negotiations Are Losing Ground to Military Solutions

In central Africa, a violent conflict has been unfolding for nearly eight years. What began in 2016 as peaceful protests by lawyers and teachers against the increasing… Read more »

Tanzania: Tanzania's Independence Leader Julius Nyerere Built a New Army Fit for African Liberation - How He Did It

Tanzania has long enjoyed a reputation as a peaceful country. In contrast to most of its neighbours, this east African nation of 67 million people has largely avoided large-scale… Read more »

Sudan: Sudan's Rebel Force Has Declared a Parallel Government - What This Means for the War

Sudan's south-western city of Nyala in Darfur recently became the centre of a significant political development. Read more »

Africa: Drones, Disinformation and Guns-for-Hire Are Reshaping Conflict in Africa - New Book Tracks the Trends

Alessandro Arduino has researched Africa's security affairs with a particular focus on the use of private military companies and other guns-for-hire across the continent. In his… Read more »

Nigeria: Armed Banditry Is Becoming a Crisis in Nigeria - Why Fixing the Police Is Key

Armed banditry in Nigeria has escalated into a full-blown security crisis, particularly in the north-west and north-central regions. What began as sporadic attacks has now morphed… Read more »

Nigeria: Boko Haram Conflict - Nigeria's Army Is Failing the Widows of Dead Soldiers

Nigerian soldiers' widows have been reported as lacking support from the army, and even experiencing sexual harassment while claiming their late husbands' benefits. Read more »

Nigeria: Muhammadu Buhari - Nigeria's Military Leader Turned Democratic President Leaves a Mixed Legacy

Nigeria's former president, Muhammadu Buhari, who died in London on 13 July aged 82, was one of two former military heads of state who were later elected as civilian presidents.… Read more »

West Africa: West Africa Terror - Why Attacks On Military Bases Are Rising - and Four Ways to Respond

More than 40 Malian soldiers were killed and one of the country's military bases was taken over in early June 2025 in a major attack by an al-Qaeda linked group, Jama'a Nusrat… Read more »

West Africa: Coups in West Africa Have Five Things in Common - Knowing What They Are Is Key to Defending Democracy

August 2025 makes it five years since Malian soldiers ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in a coup d'état. While the event reshaped Mali's domestic politics, it… Read more »

Sudan: Sudan - Foreign Interests Are Deepening a Devastating War - Only Regional Diplomacy Can Stop Them

The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has raged since April 2023. It's turned Sudan into the site of one of the world's most catastrophic… Read more »

Mali: One Coup Leads to Another, History Shows

Immediately after Mali's unpopular president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, was removed on Aug. 18 by the military in a swift and bloodless coup, many Malians celebrated. Read more »