Lavrov defends Russia’s role in Sahel, confirms Wagner plans

Lavrov defends Russia’s role in Sahel, confirms Wagner plans

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed reports that Mali plans to hire contractors with the Wagner Group to fight extremism in the Sahel, but insisted again that the private company is not operating under Moscow’s control. The remarks from Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov followed questions about the presence of Wagner…

More than 30 extremists die in French raid in Mali

More than 30 extremists die in French raid in Mali

Military officials in France say at least 33 members of a terrorist group died during an overnight raid on Saturday in the Mopti region of central Mali. The Ministry of Defense said the French troops targeted a large camp of the armed extremists in a wooded area after acquiring intelligence…

France, Mali mourn 13 soldiers killed in helicopter crash

France, Mali mourn 13 soldiers killed in helicopter crash

Military leaders and dignitaries traveled from France to Mali on Wednesday to pay tribute to 13 soldiers killed earlier this week in a helicopter collision while supporting anti-terrorism efforts in the Sahel. The crash happened in the dark as the helicopters flew low over ground operations in the Liptako Gourma…

Terror and targets: What’s behind the Ouagadougou attacks?

The terrorist attacks in Ouagadougou on Friday were by no means the first in Burkina Faso, where people were gunned down in the Aziz Istanbul restaurant while dining in August or died at the Splendid Hotel, a site popular among Westerners that was targeted by car bomb attacks in January…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

France’s Macron plans Sahel trip later this week

Newly elected President Emmanuel Macron of France promised during his campaign that once in office, his first trip abroad would be to see French troops stationed in the Sahel in Operation Barkhane. Now he’s making good on that promise with a visit, expected to be in Mali, on Thursday or…