🎬Vanishing gold

CURRENCIES

SECURITY
Sahel states move to create new army

Just in case the UN Peacekeeping forces are next in line to lose US funding, the Alliance of Sahel States: mainly composed of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso has a backup plan. On Tuesday, the three junta-led countries agreed to form a brand new unified military block, complete with aerial, ground, and intelligence systems.

According to Niger’s defense minister, Salif Mody, the military unit will count about 5000 troops, with equal contributions from each of the three countries, and should be operational in a “matter of weeks”. The goal is to address the jihadist attacks that have plagued the region for years:

• Each of the three countries are former French colonies that deposed their civilian administrations from 2020-2023

• Following the coups, all 3 countries distanced themselves from France, then exited the ECOWAS economic block to form the Alliance of Sahel States

• Each has been wracked by attacks by jihadists allied with either Al-Qaeda or Islamic State for a decade, violence their governments have not been able to eradicate despite help from French forces.

Not many congratulatory messages will be coming in

Least of all, from France or the United States. In September, the last US troops stationed in Niger were forced out, effectively reducing Western presence in the region to zero. French military personnel had been thrown out months earlier in response to the civilian governments being deposed.

Except for Russia of course. Since turning away from the West, the Sahel states have found a new military ally in Russia. The country’s Wagner group has grown in presence throughout the region, reportedly supporting their armed forces against terrorist attacks.

There could be a fourth member soon. Last month, the Republic of Chad effectively ended France’s military presence within its borders in a similar anti-colonial fashion. Analysts suspect it may soon turn to Russia or the Sahel states as an ally. -OA.

TRENDING
Glitter or gold?

Several Paris Olympians have noticed that their medals are fading faster than their memories of the Eiffel Tower. It’s been 100+ days since the Summer Olympics ended, and 100+ athletes have already asked for their medals to be replaced due to rusting and tarnishing. Designed by luxury jewelry company Chaumet, each medal took 15 days to complete in collaboration with France’s mint. After investigating, the mint determined that the varnish used to protect the medals from oxidation was defective — the mint had recently changed the secret formula to conform to EU regulations banning chromium trioxide, a toxic chemical.

SHOWER THOUGHTS

NEWS
Round the continent

• Kenya has extended its visa-free policy to include removing prior authorization for anyone traveling into the country.

• Total Energies is backtracking on its liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique over political uncertainty following the elections.

• Apple has been hit by a Belgian probe over an accusation that it procured minerals from rebel groups in DR Congo.

• J. Peter Pham, who served as special envoy for the Sahel and Great Lakes regions in the first Trump administration, is likely to be the top African envoy in Trump’s 2.0 administration.