Shield and Alert: Sahel Bound

Spain Faces Scrutiny Over Migrant Centers in Mauritania$

Political debate in Spain is increasing over the country’s funding of migrant centers in Mauritania, as critics claim these sites lack adequate legal safeguards and human rights protections.

Crisis in Sudan: Meet the Ruthless Warlord Hemedti$

Libya has Khalifa Haftar, Sudan has its own ruthless warlord, Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo—better known as Hemedti. Both men have risen to power through armed force and human rights abuses, commanding personal militias that operate outside legal state structures. They secure their authority through violence, control over territory and resources, and a readiness to suppress opposition through fear and brute force. A profile of Sudan’s Hemedti.

French Nationals Urged to Leave Mali as Insurgent Attacks Intensify in the Sahel$

Defense ministers from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger met in Niamey to accelerate their joint military alliance, but no deployment date was confirmed. France is advising nationals to leave Mali “temporarily” amid deteriorating security, while international shipping companies hesitate to continue cargo routes. November 7 brought reports of multiple attacks by insurgents, further highlighting the region’s instability.

Mauritanian Police Detain Anti-Slavery Activist After Advocacy Event$

Warda Ahmed Souleymane, a member of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA), was arrested by police in Nouakchott the evening of October 31, 2025 and taken to an undisclosed location. The detention followed her public participation at a continental human rights session in The Gambia, where she called for peaceful civic mobilization.