Shield and Alert: Sahel Bound

Africa: Visa Bonds Up to $15,000 From October 23: New U.S. Policy Targets Travelers from Africa$

Starting October 23, 2025, citizens of seven African countries must pay refundable visa bonds of up to $15,000 when seeking entry to the United States for business or tourism under a year-long pilot program aimed at curbing visa overstays.

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Sahel: Surging Jihadist Violence Batters the Sahel, Exposing Government Weakness$

Jihadist violence has surged across the Sahel, with militants overrunning military bases, ambushing convoys, and forcing civilians to negotiate with armed groups for survival. Hardest hit are conflict corridors in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and northeastern Nigeria, where blockades and insecurity have left millions displaced or trapped in besieged communities.

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Mali: Ongoing Attacks Prompt Longer Curfew in Western Mali$

Kayes in western Mali will continue under a nighttime curfew throughout October, as authorities respond to a series of attacks by armed groups and work to limit the threat of insurgent violence.

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Northwest Africa’s Fishing Crisis Intensifies$

Factories that once hummed with activity along Mauritania’s Atlantic coast now stand silent, their doors shut as fish stocks plunge and communities struggle to adapt. In Morocco, the warning signs are just as stark—sardine landings in key southern ports have nearly halved, and locals worry that they might soon face the same fate as their neighbors to the south.

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