UNCOVERED: 16 - The Untold Story

Barkhane, Takuba, Sabre: French and European military missions in the Sahel

France on Thursday announced the withdrawal of its military mission in Mali, Operation Barkhane, after nine years of battling jihadists in the region. At the request of Malian authorities, France launched an intervention in January 2013 to oust Islamists who had taken over much of the north.

France 24 · Feb 16, 2022

France set to leave Mali for neighbouring countries to continue fight against terrorism

Nine years after first intervening in Mali to fight jihadism, France is likely to remove troops to neighbouring Sahel states amid escalating tension between Bamako and Paris.

Radio France Internationale · Feb 15, 2022

The trouble with drought as an explanation for famine in the Horn and Sahel of Africa

In early February 2022, the World Food Programme announced that 13 million people in the Horn of Africa were facing severe hunger as drought gripped the region. Similar concerns have been raised for several countries in the West African Sahel this year.

The Conversation · Feb 15, 2022

EXPLAINER: France in sticky situation amid crisis with Mali

France is facing its toughest challenge in Africa in years: What to do about thousands of French troops stationed in junta-led Mali, the core of a major international anti-terrorism operation in the increasingly restive Sahel region

The Independent UK · Feb 3, 2022

While the focus is on Ukraine, Russia’s presence in the Sahel is steadily growing

With Russian mercenaries invited to Mali as European forces withdraw, how worried should the west be about Russia’s increasing influence across Africa?

The Guardian - UK · Feb 3, 2022

After a fourth coup in West Africa, it's time to rethink international response

The latest coup in Burkina Faso is the fourth in Africa’s Sahel region in less than 18 months. The other three were carried out in August 2020 in Mali, in April 2021 in Chad, and Mali’s “coup within a coup” last May.

The Conversation · Jan 31, 2022

Security in the Sahel: Is the Takuba Task Force still welcome in Mali?

While Paris was counting on the strengthening of the Takuba counter-terrorism force in the Sahel region to compensate for the drawdown of soldiers from its former Operation Barkhane, Denmark announced on Thursday that it would withdraw its troops from Mali at the request of the ruling junta. Does this mark…

France 24 · Jan 28, 2022

France says standoff with ‘out of control’ Mali junta untenable

Mali said it was "ruling nothing out" in regard to its relationship with France on Friday after France’s foreign minister said that a standoff with an “out of control” junta in Mali was untenable, and that Paris was discussing with partners how to adapt its operations to continue the fight…

France 24 · Jan 28, 2022

France condemns Mali's 'irresponsible' expulsion of Danish troops

Mali's military regime has taken an "irresponsible" decision by expelling Danish special forces sent to help fight jihadist insurgents, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday. Denmark said the country would withdraw its newly deployed contingent of 90 troops from Mali after repeated demands by the Sahel country's military…

Radio France Internationale · Jan 27, 2022

France, European allies urge Malian junta to allow Danish troops to stay

France and several European nations have urged Mali to allow newly arrived Danish special forces to remain in the Sahel country, but its transitional government insisted on an immediate withdrawal.

Radio France Internationale · Jan 27, 2022