The Latest Breaking News from Sahel

Who are JNIM, the jihadist ‘ghost enemy’ gaining momentum in the Sahel?

Islamist extremist group has capitalised on instability to control a swath of the region

The Guardian - UK · Jun 25, 2025

Libya's Al-Khadim airbase becomes a hub for Russian arms in the Sahel

Amid renewed relations with Libya, Russia is relying on the Al-Khadim base near Benghazi to strengthen its military presence in the Sahel region of Africa. RFI journalists were able to trace the itinerary of a Russian cargo plane from Syria to Libya, one of many flights operating on this route.

Radio France Internationale · Jun 23, 2025

A confidential brief to the ICC accuses Russia-linked Wagner of promoting atrocities in West Africa

The International Criminal Court is reviewing a confidential legal report asserting that the Russia-linked Wagner group has committed war crimes by spreading images of apparent atrocities in West Africa on social media

The Independent UK · Jun 22, 2025

Funding terror: how west Africa’s deadly jihadists get the money they need to survive

The west Africa–Sahel region has seen a proliferation of militant Islamist groups since the 1990s.

The Conversation · May 25, 2025

EU and African Union ministers pledge to boost cooperation on peace, security and economy

The last time that foreign ministers from both continents met, Russia had not launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war in Sudan had not begun, and France had not lost its influence in Africa's Sahel region, where its military departed from last year.

Euronews · May 22, 2025

Fake news claiming Burkina Faso detained French spy spreads virally online

Anti-Western disinformation is rampant in Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel, with analysts and governments claiming pro-Russian campaigns are undermining stability.

Euronews · May 19, 2025

Where do jihadist groups in the Sahel get their weapons?

Jihadist groups in the Sahel region are arming themselves largely through looting their countries' own military stockpiles, new research reveals, debunking theories that jihadists are being supplied by foreign weapons pipelines such as France.

Radio France Internationale · May 11, 2025

What should Europe do as Russia gains influence in Africa's Sahel?

France was recently asked to leave Chad, and its relations in central and West Africa are increasingly weak. With Russian influence in the region spreading, Euronews asks what is next for Europe in the Sahel.

Euronews · Apr 17, 2025

Fulani: new study unravels the genetic history of Africa’s largest pastoralist community

The Fulani people are Africa’s largest pastoralist group. There are between 25 million and 40  million Fulani people across 17 African countries, from the Atlantic shores of Senegal and Mauritania to Sudan.

The Conversation · Apr 10, 2025

Algeria shuts down airspace and recalls envoys amid Mali drone row

Algeria has closed its airspace to flights to and from Mali and recalled its ambassadors from Mali and Niger, in response to what it calls "serious and unfounded allegations" that it shot down a Malian drone.

Radio France Internationale · Apr 8, 2025