Sahel Edition

Sahel: Tension over unfulfilled Niger fuel delivery to MaliF



Posted On 29 July 2024

Number of times this article was read : 7656

Niger is the new energy producing hub in the Sahel and as such, it is providing hope for other nations in the region that their energy problems would be reduced given Niger’s hydrocarbon reserves. Niger already has a deal to supply Mali. But there has been a significant delay in the delivery of fuel and hydrocarbons to neighboring Mali. The latter, more precisely its main energy firm Energie Du Mali (EDM) has already spent money to procure more than 150 million liters of fuel. Niger already received some 1 billion CFA Francs, or nearly US$1.8 million, to deliver the precious liquid. But Mali was recently told to wait indefinitely. While Niger has that fuel in its depots, it has become apparent that it has chosen to prioritize China instead, despite promises of more cooperation among the three Sahel juntas of Mali, Niger and Burkina. Mali is now upset about this situation and is threatening to revisit the contract should Niger continue to drag its feet.

Mali: Russian-linked Forces Under Drone Pressure in Northern Mali$

Armed groups in northern Mali are shifting toward repeatable FPV drone strikes against Malian army and Russian-linked Africa Corps positions. Recent attacks in Anéfis and Aguelhok indicate a tactical evolution that challenges the assumption of operational sanctuary in the Kidal region.

Niger Turns to Local Self-Defense Units to Contain Growing Insecurity$

Niger has formalized local self-defense units known as Domol Leydi as violence intensifies across its borders, reflecting a shift toward community-based security in response to expanding militant activity and limited state reach.

West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency Pressure$

Jihadist attacks in northern Benin have intensified in recent weeks, with militants linked to JNIM claiming a deadly assault on a military position near the Niger border and carrying out additional raids on security posts along the country’s volatile frontiers with Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The violence underscores how northern Benin has become part of a wider cross-border insurgency spilling south from the central Sahel, even as authorities bolster Operation Mirador and try to prevent armed groups from entrenching themselves on Beninese soil.

Podcast: Development Without Aid: Power, Politics, and Local Resilience in the Global South$

A conversation with Dr. Kate Schecter, President and CEO of World Neighbors, on how community-led development works in practice across the Global South.