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Spotlight | Mali
Tensions sky-high between Washington and Paris over MINUSMA

Read this article in our running story

“The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado”

Sahel

The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado

As the Sahel security crisis worsens, with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) increasingly active, the states in the region find themselves in an ever more vulnerable position. In an attempt to stem the flow of jihadist propaganda which now risks overflowing into the coastal states, a number of security operations have been launched, among them Operation Barkhane, the G5 Sahel joint force, MINUSMA, and the Coalition for the Sahel. [...]

Chadian peacekeepers stand guard at the Minusma peacekeeping base in Kidal, Mali, July 22, 2015. REUTERS/Adama Diarra

There is a battle raging behind the scenes within the UN's MINUSMA. The United States wants to place its candidate at the head of the peacekeeping mission while cutting personnel numbers - both measures Paris deems unacceptable. [...]

Published on 12.05.2020 at 04:40 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

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Diplomacy

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African Union Commission
Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh
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David Gressly
Donald Trump
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Former Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou.

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DRC
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The head of the United Nations Mission in the DRC (Monusco), Bintou Keita.

Ivory Coast
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Africa
How Israel finally won observer status at AU despite SADC and North African opposition

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Subscribers only Diplomacy 31.08.2021

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat (R) and Aleli Admasu, Israel's ambassador to Ethiopia, Burundi and Chad.

Tunisia
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South Sudan
Russian PANH Helicopters returns to UNMISS

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Algeria, Niger
Mohamed Bazoum due in Algiers to discuss the Sahel with Tebboune

Niger's new president, Mohamed Bazoum, is expected in Algiers this month to hold talks with his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

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Niger, Somalia
Osprea corners armoured vehicle market with G5 Sahel and AMISOM

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Senegal
Macky Sall launches all-out diplomatic offensive as he prepares to take over as Africa Union chair

With just a year to go before he becomes chairperson of the African Union, Senegalese head of state Macky Sall has started to give the first indications of his plans for the continent.

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Mali
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David Gressly was number two at MONUSCO since 2015.

Mali
Behind-doors negotiations over next MINUSMA chief

The arrival of the Biden administration should help rekindle talks for a replacement of the current MINUSMA head, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, whose mandate ends in April. Paris and Washington have been bickering over the matter for months.

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The US president-elect Joe Biden and the future secretary of state, Antony Blinken.

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Africa gives Israeli firms IAI, Elbit and Mer a back door into the worldwide UN base security market

By dint of hard lobbying, Israel's IAI, Elbit and Mer groups have succeeded in landing the contract for the provision of protection at MINUSMA camps in Mali. They are now looking to repeat the feat at the 40 or so UN peacekeeping bases throughout the world, some of them in the Middle East.

Subscribers only Defence Business 09.11.2020

Israeli companies will provide equipment to strengthen security at MINUSMA bases (above in Kidal).

United States, Zimbabwe
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Zimbabwe's new ambassador to the United States, Tadeus Chifamba, has so far represented his country to European institutions.

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Des casques bleus de la Minusma, dans la région de Tombouctou.

Mali
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Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the Special Representative for Mali and head of MINUSMA since 2015, will be keeping his post for another four months.

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West Africa
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Ghanaian diplomat Mohamed Ibn Chambas, head the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, UNOWAS.

Ivory Coast, United States
US to bankroll counter-terrorism academy with Paris

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Central Africa, West Africa
June is Sahel month for French diplomats

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Subscribers only Diplomacy 11.06.2020

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.

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Spotlight | Mali Tensions sky-high between Washington and Paris over MINUSMA

The Sahel threatened by a jihadist tornado

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Madagascar UN reluctant to fund presidential election

Mali MINUSMA head visits Berlin and Paris to discuss strategic review

Sahel, United Nations UN: Ministers, military, diplomats... Issoufou's Sahel task force

West Africa How Dakar became West Africa's 'strategic thinking' capital

Africa AU security commissioner Bankole Adeoye hires heavyweight advisers

DRC Bintou Keita to stay on as MONUSCO head

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Africa How Israel finally won observer status at AU despite SADC and North African opposition

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DRC, United Nations, United States MONUSCO number two David Gressly heads to Yemen

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Guinea Conakry close to becoming African Union's new mining HQ

DRC UN appoints new panel of experts to oversee arms embargo

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Mali After coup, MINUSMA leadership talks back in full swing

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African Union, Chad, Sahel, United Nations Idriss Déby's global network of well-placed Chadian officials begins to fray

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Mali CAE, MAG and Leonardo ready as MINUSMA prepares airborne surveillance call for bids

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Africa, United States Mike Pompeo appoints new US ambassadors to Djibouti, Burundi and Eswatini

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Africa, United States How Donald Trump is equipping armies of Sahel

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Egypt
The rise of militia businessman Arjani

DRC
Tshisekedi keeps close eye on Kabila ahead of presidential elections

Spotlight | Mali
Tensions sky-high between Washington and Paris over MINUSMA

Madagascar
UN reluctant to fund presidential election

Mali
MINUSMA head visits Berlin and Paris to discuss strategic review

Sahel, United Nations
UN: Ministers, military, diplomats... Issoufou's Sahel task force

West Africa
How Dakar became West Africa's 'strategic thinking' capital

Africa
AU security commissioner Bankole Adeoye hires heavyweight advisers

DRC
Bintou Keita to stay on as MONUSCO head

Ivory Coast
From Mali to CAR, Abidjan doing all it can to get its soldiers UN Blue Helmets

Africa
How Israel finally won observer status at AU despite SADC and North African opposition

Tunisia
Despite red flags, UN keeps bankrolling National Guard

South Sudan
Russian PANH Helicopters returns to UNMISS

Algeria, Niger
Mohamed Bazoum due in Algiers to discuss the Sahel with Tebboune

Niger, Somalia
Osprea corners armoured vehicle market with G5 Sahel and AMISOM

Senegal
Macky Sall launches all-out diplomatic offensive as he prepares to take over as Africa Union chair

Mali
El Ghassim Wane, the next head of MINUSMA

DRC, United Nations, United States
MONUSCO number two David Gressly heads to Yemen

Mali
Behind-doors negotiations over next MINUSMA chief

Spotlight | United States
Will Biden end Trump's line-in-the-sand diplomacy in the Sahel?

In Focus | Israel, Mali
Africa gives Israeli firms IAI, Elbit and Mer a back door into the worldwide UN base security market

United States, Zimbabwe
US sanctions top of the agenda for new Washington ambassador Tadeous Chifamba

Guinea
Conakry close to becoming African Union's new mining HQ

DRC
UN appoints new panel of experts to oversee arms embargo

Mali, Senegal, United States
Culmen aims high for MINUSMA logistics and training contract

Mali
After coup, MINUSMA leadership talks back in full swing

Mali, Turkey
Thanks to ties with coup-makers, Turkish businesses keep foot in the door

West Africa
Antonio Guterres chooses new United Nations "West Africa" boss

Ivory Coast, United States
US to bankroll counter-terrorism academy with Paris

Africa
Race heats up for top airports job at ASECNA

African Union, Chad, Sahel, United Nations
Idriss Déby's global network of well-placed Chadian officials begins to fray

Mali
MINUSMA: second Ivorian tank corps deployed to Timbuktu

Mali
CAE, MAG and Leonardo ready as MINUSMA prepares airborne surveillance call for bids

Central Africa, West Africa
June is Sahel month for French diplomats

Central Africa, West Africa
Security Council to probe Sahel army abuses

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Mike Pompeo appoints new US ambassadors to Djibouti, Burundi and Eswatini

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Will UEMOA stump up for AU's 3,000-strong force in Sahel?

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Covid-19: France's Alain Le Roy, the sovereign debt eradicator

Niger
Niamey obtains cancellation of UN Security Council session on military abuses in Sahel

Mali
French general Pierre-Joseph Givre to join MINUSMA

Mali
MINUSMA Ivorian contingent to deploy to Mopti

Mali
CAE, MAG and Leonardo among the contenders for MINUSMA's spy plane contract

Africa, United States
How Donald Trump is equipping armies of Sahel