Mali
France will keep pressing for counterterrorism in Mali
France confirmed today its forces have killed the number two leader of al-Qaida's local branch
MaliFarabougou siege shows Malian forces' inadequacies
Jihadists besieged a village for weeks before Malian forces arrived, but the countryside is still out of their control
MaliFrance will struggle to refocus its Sahel strategy
Persistent unrest in the Sahel will make it difficult for France to shift from its current military focus
FranceProspects for the Sahel for 2021
Elections are taking place in all but one of the Sahelian countries over the coming year
NigerSahel kidnappings may persist despite hostage rescue
US special forces rescued a US national that had been kidnapped in southern Niger
NigerTransition is unlikely to revive the Malian economy
West Africa's regional bloc lifted sanctions on Mali following the start of the junta's transitional plan
MaliMalian junta entrenchment will undercut ECOWAS stance
The regional organisation lifted sanctions on Mali after the junta announced a new cabinet where it keeps key positions
MaliOperation Takuba Sahel successes may be short-lived
France and other European countries are deploying 600 special forces troops in the Sahel
Niger
