Along the Guinea-Mali border, jihadist violence and a fast-moving gold economy are colliding to reshape security, trade and governance. In the Siguiri-Kourémalé corridor, formal border controls, informal crossings and illicit mining networks are all pulling the region in different directions.

A tactical thaw in the Sahel is reshaping Algeria’s ties with Mali, but the deeper conflict over northern Mali remains unresolved.

FAO monitoring shows Northwest Africa entering a new phase of desert locust activity, with Morocco facing the highest pressure and neighboring countries preparing for possible summer migrations toward Sahelian breeding zones.

Mali’s JNIM-FLA alliance has pushed into its sixth day of fighting for Anéfis after ambushing a Malian-Russian convoy near Tabrichat and downing a helicopter, as a second relief convoy heads toward the besieged garrison.