Shield and Alert: Sahel Bound

Mali: Junta postpones presidential election indefinitely, outrage in BamakoF

Malian political groups expressed outrage on Wednesday at the junta's decision to postpone indefinitely the presidential election that was supposed to bring back civilian rule. The ruling junta on Monday announced a delay to a presidential election scheduled for...

Sahel: Mali warns ECOWAS against military action in NigerF

Mali "will not stand idly by" if foreign governments intervene in neighouring Niger, Bamako's top diplomat warned the United Nations on Saturday, after both countries' juntas joined a mutual defense pact. Rebel elite soldiers overthrew Niger's president Mohamed Bazoum...

Sahel: Niger bans French aircraft from its airspaceF

Niger's military rulers have banned "French aircraft" from flying over the country's airspace, according to the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) website. Niger's airspace is "open to all national and international commercial...

Sahel: French President makes pragmatic decision to step away from NigerF

French withdrawals from Africa After Mali, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic, France is being forced to withdraw troops from yet another former African colony that pivoted to Russia after souring on Paris: Niger. Faced with growing anti-French sentiment...