logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2025
23m 7s

Is Mali about to fall to an al-Qaeda-aff...

Al Jazeera
About this episode

Al-Qaeda-linked fighters have blocked fuel deliveries to Mali’s capital for two months. They want to seize territory and drive out Western influence. But could their ultimate goal be to control the country? And what would that mean for the rest of the Sahel?

In this episode: 

  • Moussa Kondo, Executive Director, Sahel Institute.
  • Oluwole Ojewale, Regional Coordinator, West and Central Africa, Institute for Security Studies.
  • Nicolas Normand, Former French Ambassador to Mali, Senegal and Congo Republic/Congo-Brazzaville.

 Host: Nick Clark

Connect with us:
@AJEPodcasts on TwitterInstagram, Facebook

Up next
Today
Will the US-Iran war dominate discussions at the ASEAN summit?
Southeast Asian nations are gathering for the 2026 ASEAN Summit where topics such as Myanmar and regional security are on the agenda. But officials are gathering amidst an escalating war between the U.S and Iran. So, will the conflict overshadow the other issues facing ASEAN? In ... Show More
23m 42s
Yesterday
How will Khalil al-Hayya's leadership shape Hamas?
Khalil al-Hayya has been appointed head of the Hamas political bureau. He played a major role in the ceasefire talks to end Israel's devastating war on Gaza. How significant is his election for both Hamas and the Palestinian territory? In this episode: Ibrahim Fraihat, Professor ... Show More
24m 14s
Jul 20
How will Zelenskyy handle the growing political crisis at home?
Ukraine hits back after Russia carries out one of its largest missile attacks of the war. At the same time, Kyiv is dealing with demonstrations and the political fallout following the dismissal of the defence minister. How will the president handle the crisis? In this episode: Ol ... Show More
24m 18s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2025
Why al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch is blocking fuel to Mali
A long siege by al-Qaeda-linked fighters has left Bamako low on fuel, food and power. Life has stalled and fear is growing across Mali. The crisis now tests a military government that has promised safety yet cannot break the blockade. What does this mean for Mali and the wider re ... Show More
23m 9s
Mar 2024
Military Rule and Russian Mercenaries in the Sahel
<p>In this episode of <em>Hold Your Fire!,</em> Richard is joined by Crisis Group’s Sahel director, Jean-Hervé Jezequel, to discuss the decision of military leaders in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to withdraw from the regional bloc ECOWAS, their campaigns against jihadist insurge ... Show More
48m 53s
Jan 2022
Why is Mali facing sanctions from its neighbours?
West African leaders have imposed sanctions on Mali’s military government. They have been calling for a return to civilian rule since a military coup in 2020. Mali has experienced a second coup since then. And elections which were planned for February are now facing a lengthy del ... Show More
14m 17s
Jul 2022
What’s going on between Ivory Coast and Mali?
Mali and Ivory Coast have been locked in a dispute since the beginning of the week when news broke of the arrest of 49 Ivorian soldiers at the airport in Mali’s capital Bamako. Mali accused the soldiers of being illegally in their country, calling them mercenaries. Ivory coast in ... Show More
12m 25s
Aug 2023
Bloc can tackle? ECOWAS and Niger’s coup
<p>The Economic Community of West African States <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/08/07/after-nigers-coup-the-drums-of-war-are-growing-louder?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anony ... Show More
27m 40s
Nov 2022
Russia, France and the battle for influence in West Africa
President Macron this week announced that France's anti-jihadist military mission in the Sahel region of Africa has ended. The departure of troops from the former colonial power and the end of Operation Barkhane comes at a challenging time for the region which is in the grips of ... Show More
48m 57s
Oct 2021
As France departs, is Mali turning to Russian mercenaries?
France and Mali have been exchanging harsh words in recent weeks. The tension between the two usually close allies started to sour after Paris’s decision to withdraw troops from the country. Now there are reports that the government in Bamako will turn to the Russian private secu ... Show More
14m 52s
Aug 2023
Bonus: What’s Behind the Coup in Niger?
Last week’s coup in Niger is the latest in a string of recent military takeovers in Africa—seemingly the final domino to fall in a region plagued by instability and the battle between Russia and the West for influence in the Sahel. Coup leaders are now facing an ultimatum from th ... Show More
17m 28s