📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by @ninawilen.bsky.social @egmontinstitute.bsky.social First published by the AFET committee of the European Parliament “From Engagement to Rupture to Re-Engagement: Analysing the Path to the EU’s Renewed Approach to the Sahel” 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👉 tinyurl.com/58hyarh9

How is the #EU 's renewed approach to the #Sahel different from previous strategies? In my new European Parliament report "From Engagement to Rupture to Re-engagement" I argue that it marks an important shift but implementation remains challenging Read here: www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en...

A new EU approach to the Sahel region | Think Tank | European Parliament

A new EU approach to the Sahel region

europarl.europa.eu

Quand la guerre en #Ukraine finira, un autre risque sécuritaire pourrait émerger bien au-delà de #Europe : celui d’anciens combattants rejoignant des réseaux #mercenaires en #Afrique Lisez notre analyse avec #Sofie Rose pour @lerubicon.bsky.social

Le Rubicon@lerubicon.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Retrouvez l’analyse de Nina Wilén (@ninawilen.bsky.social), directrice du programme Afrique à l’institut Egmont et professeur associée à l’université de Lund, et de Sofie Rose, chercheuse postdoctorale au Centre d’études sur la guerre de l’université du Danemark du Sud, sur #LeRubicon.

Can the current regime in #Mali stay after the coordinated attacks? What will happen to #JNIM-FLA alliance & #AES? I'm discussing these questions in a debate @france24.com with Dominique TRINQUAND Vincent HUGEUX Mamadou Ismaïla KONAT et @sergedaniel.bsky.social www.france24.com/fr/%C3%A9mis...

"#Mali Meltdown: The Coordinated attacks & their Consequences" My latest for @egmontinstitute.bsky.social with brilliant @casusbelli.bsky.social We analyse the alliance btw #FLA & #JNIM; #Africa Corps & Russia's reputation, #AES silence & #Sahel broadly egmontinstitute.be/mali-meltdow...

Mali Meltdown: Coordinated Attacks and their Consequences - Egmont Institute

On the 25th of April, coordinated attacks across several major cities with military caserns in Mali were perpetrated by the largest Jihadist group in the region: Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin [...

egmontinstitute.be

“This will be a setback for #Russia more broadly...The Russians negotiating themselves out of #Kidal, leaving their Malian counterparts behind, doesn’t give a good impression" I'm interviewed in @bloomberg.com about latest events in #Mali #Sahel www.bloomberg.com/news/article...?

Russia Bet Backfires for Mali as Rebels Retake Key Desert Town

Insurgents recaptured a Malian town that had become a symbol of Russia’s promise to deliver security where Western forces had failed.

bloomberg.com

📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by @ninawilen.bsky.social @egmontinstitute.bsky.social First published in International Studies Review @oupacademic.bsky.social “Security Force Assistance, Social Networks, Coups, and the Re-Ordering of Power Relations” 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👉 tinyurl.com/yeywuazt

"as he pushes for #sovereignty & #freedom from the West, his #junta benefits from a $300m loan from the #IMF & a $4.1bn in credit loans and grants from the #World Bank while actively eroding civil liberties internally" #Sahel #Burkina news.sky.com/story/the-yo...

Inside the secretive country run by a military leader with a cult following

Sky News speaks to President Ibrahim Traoré, the young leader who is being hailed across Africa as an "anti-imperialist revolutionary".

news.sky.com

📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by @ninawilen.bsky.social and Jonathan Fisher @egmontinstitute.bsky.social “A crowded and fragmented security landscape in Africa: Identifying three trends and their consequences” #EgmontInstitute #Africa #Security #Peacekeeping #Geopolitics 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👉 tinyurl.com/2eshnf6a

In our new piece for @egmontinstitute.bsky.social Jonathan Fisher & I explore 3 #security trends in #Africa: 🌍 Decline of #multilateralism 🔗 Ad hoc #coalitions 🛡️ Security outsourcing → Fragmentation, privatization & weaker accountability benefit 'authoritarians' egmontinstitute.be/a-crowded-an...

A Crowded and Fragmented Security Landscape in Africa: Identifying Three Trends and Their Consequences - Egmont Institute

It has been more than a decade since the UN last authorized a multidimensional peacekeeping in Africa, in spite of the continent experiencing the highest number of state-based conflicts in […]

egmontinstitute.be

Aid to Ukraine from 2022-2026 was a rounding error. We used more in the first two weeks of the Iran war than we provided in the 4 years of aid to Ukraine.

Kate from Kharkiv@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Hegseth: "We're still dealing with the environment Joe Biden created—depleting our stockpiles and sending them to Ukraine instead of our own military. Every time we face a challenge, it traces back to 'Well, sent it to Ukraine.'" It looks like they’re just going to blame Ukraine

"States in sub-Saharan #Africa increased their #arms imports by 13% compared with 2016–20...in 2021–25. The three largest recipients were #Nigeria #16%, #Senegal 8.8%.. #Mali 8.0%" The three largest suppliers were: #China, 22% #Russia 12% #Türkiye 11% www.sipri.org/publications...

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2025

From 9 March 2026 the freely available SIPRI Arms Transfers Database includes updated data on transfers of major arms for 1950–2025. Based on the new data, this fact sheet presents key trends in arms ...

sipri.org

I was interviewed by @deutschewelle.dw.com about #Sahel ‘s top rank in the latest Global #Terrorism Index - Attacks against capitals - bolder - Expansion West - + capacities - Military response not enough #JNIM #ISIS #Mali #Burkina #Niger amp-dw-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.dw.c...

Le Sahel, épicentre du terrorisme mondial

Sur les près de 5.600 morts attribués au terrorisme dans le monde en 2025, près de la moitié ont été recensés au Sahel.

amp-dw-com.cdn.ampproject.org

“Our data on the #USA goes back to 1789. What we’re seeing now is the most severe magnitude of democratic backsliding ever in the country… …#freedom of expression is now at its lowest level since the 1940” #autocracy #democracy Read and wipe: www.theguardian.com/world/commen...

‘Trump is aiming for dictatorship’. That’s the verdict of the world’s most credible democracy watchdog | Martin Gelin

Sweden’s V-Dem Institute warns that the US is no longer a liberal democracy. And autocracy is creeping across Europe too, says writer Martin Gelin

theguardian.com

"The #US said Monday that it was imposing #sanctions on #Rwanda 's #military, taking action against a longtime partner it accused of violating a peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of #Congo" #M23 #Conflict #Minerals www.barrons.com/news/us-slap...

US Slaps Sanctions On Rwanda Military Over DR Congo 'Violation'

The United States said Monday that it was imposing sanctions on Rwanda's military, taking action against a longtime partner it accused of violating a peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of Cong...

barrons.com

#China perceived as the external actor in #Africa with most positive influence #Russia behind both the #US & the #EU (#Mali exception) #EU lagging behind the #US but USAID cut may not be felt at the poll moment #Turkey & Gulf states notably absent www.afrobarometer.org/articles/la-...

"Officials from African countries including #Angola, #DRC #Gabon, #Guinea, & #Nigeria attended a critical #minerals summit in Washington...African engagement is necessary to its efforts to dismantle #Beijing’s chokehold on the list of #CRM that Washington imports" foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/04/u...

What Will the U.S. Critical Minerals Summit Mean for Africa?

How African nations fit into the Trump administration’s plans to combat China.

foreignpolicy.com

"A 9-day #BRICS + #naval exercise..underscored #China’s growing use of #military power in #Africa..#Iran ’s first-ever participation marks a significant departure...The #PLA has conducted three #military exercises in Africa in the past 18 months" #Russia africacenter.org/spotlight/ch...

China’s Military Footprint in Africa Deepens with People’s Liberation Army-led BRICS Naval Drills

China’s efforts to integrate Africa into its global security architectures risk Africa’s longstanding preference to avoid being pulled into competing geopolitical camps.

africacenter.org

"Both #JNIM and #ISSP launched #kidnapping campaigns targeting foreigners, which drove record-high instances of kidnapping in #Mali and #Niger" ⭐ A special mention goes to the #UAE for paying a record ransom of 50$ million to JNIM...😑 #Sahel #ISIS #jihad #terror acleddata.com/report/econo...

Economic warfare escalates as militants expand beyond the Sahel

Previously distinct conflicts in the Sahel and coastal West Africa are merging into a single, interconnected one that will likely become a key arena of militant competition.

acleddata.com

“My father..did everything he could to make sure that the children got an education. This was before #gender discourses & all that, but he was already gendered.” ▶️ The importance of support from #men for #girls to get an education in unequal societies. www.egmontinstitute.be/how-do-women...

How Do Women in Niger Crush the Glass Ceiling? - Egmont Institute

Abstract Patriarchal norms across West Africa curtail women’s education and employment opportunities, with Niger standing as an extreme example. However, a small minority of Nigerien women succeed in ...

egmontinstitute.be

"#Russia offered personal protection to the Malagasy leader..#Putin intends to add #Madagascar to the growing list of African countries...following the same pattern of protection and #military cooperation in exchange for access to #resources" #Africa #coup english.elpais.com/internationa...

Russian Africa Corps mercenaries incorporate Madagascar into their expansion across the continent

The pattern of military cooperation in exchange for resources that originated in the Central African Republic and later spread to the Sahel is growing

english.elpais.com

“Until the last few days, when I told them about #Iceland, they loved me. They called me ‘Daddy" Yes, this is for real. This is a president confusing which country he wants to annex & referring to himself as 'daddy' (thanks Rutte..) #NATO #US #Ice.. #Greenland www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

Trump appears to confuse Greenland with Iceland in speech on taking territory

President repeats his ambition of taking Danish territory in front of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland

independent.co.uk

Wow. What a speech. Mark Carney just reminded us that in spite of a deeply disturbing global situation, there are world leaders who can inspire us to go towards a brighter future (and he did this while speaking in full, grammatically correct sentences): www.youtube.com/watch?v=btqH...

📣 New publication! ❓How do #women in #Niger crush the glassceiling? We find w #NinaSoudan: 3 adaptive strategies navigate patriarchal structures: ➡️ Male support ➡️ Balancing private& professional lives ➡️ Academic Excellency 🌐 www.egmontinstitute.be/how-do-women... #equality #gender #strategy

📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by @ninawilen.bsky.social & Nina Soudan @egmontinstitute.bsky.social “How Do Women in Niger Crush the Glass Ceiling?” #Niger #WestAfrica #GenderEquality ##GlassCeiling #GenderRelations #EgmontInstitute 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👉 tinyurl.com/mt9shk7j

Wow, 2026, we are barely 3 weeks in & some #NATO countries are deploying to defend an ally from #annexation (yes, because that’s now a buzz word again) from yet another NATO member whose president wants the peace prize… (erhm) & GETS IT 😑 #Venezuela #Greenland #sovereignty #intervention #surrealism

"11 countries planning to hold #elections in 2026... In 4 of 11 countries (#Uganda..#Congo, #Djibouti, & South #Sudan), presidents have been in power for at least 15 years... ... #Somalia & #Ethiopia will be holding elections amid ongoing armed #conflict" #Africa africacenter.org/spotlight/en...

"#US has descended into competitive #authoritarianism...What makes self-censorship so insidious is that it is..impossible to ascertain its full impact..the public..never know how many editors have softened headlines..or opted not to run certain news items" www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

The Price of American Authoritarianism

What can reverse democratic decline?

foreignaffairs.com

"Democrats are playing by the rules of a game that no longer exists. They are relying on cautious diplomacy while their opponents have become more ruthless...& better networked" #Democracy #authoritarianism #elections #disinformation #HumanRights www.foreignaffairs.com/china/illibe...

The Illiberal International

Authoritarian cooperation is reshaping the global order.

foreignaffairs.com

"One emerging trend might be dubbed the “Russification of the #US,” at the heart of which lies #ideology... ..today, the Republican electorate— & #MAGA..is far more aligned with #Russia than its traditional conservative counterparts in #Europe" shs.cairn.info/journal-poli...