beverlyochieng.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Foreign ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States have been in Russia, which intends to remain a strategic partner in the coalition's quest for recognition and sovereignty. Niger's FM spoke to RT on this and the push to eventually stop using the CFA franc francais.rt.com/magazines/la...

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Multiparty democracy has been dismantled in Niger where military ruler Tchiani was sworn in as president for five years. Spoke to BBC about the dissolution of political parties and how ECOWAS is recalibrating irelations with the Sahel where military rule is entrenched mastodon.social/@beverly_och...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

We had @beverlyochieng.bsky.social in the bunker to discuss stalking Wagner across Africa. youtu.be/ieHAMkEHiBk

submitted 11 days ago • 1 comment

Angola wants to withdraw as mediator between DR Congo and Rwanda and parallel peace, diplomatic and military initiatives unravel under M23's advance. I spoke to Firstpost about the fragility of M23's announced withdrawal and regional tensions as many parties are involved. youtu.be/XWCTD6Y85DE?...

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

For the first time since 2022, the leaders and Rwanda and DR Congo held face-to-face talks, mediated by the latest actor: Qatar. I spoke to Bloomberg TV about battlegroubd gains by M23 rebels and how each side is leveraging mineral concessions for political control www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...

submitted 16 days ago • 0 comments

Even if you're not someone who consumes podcasts via YouTube, you might be interested to hear AND see the full length version of our fascinating chat with @beverlyochieng.bsky.social about Russian meddling in Africa: youtu.be/lW1nApsUStw?...

submitted 19 days ago • 2 comments

Niger withdraws from La Francophonie as it continues to reject any institutional form of what it perceives to be France's political, linguistic, military and economic influence.

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Prominent TVs off air as Senegal seeks compliance, Burkina Faso's PM highlights military progress amid alleged human rights abuses by soldiers and VDPs in Solenzo and the latest attacks in the north, while Benin-Niger tensions continue to hamper crude oil exports and joint counterterror operations.

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

Such a delight being on @europeanspod.bsky.social talking about (my ongoing obsession with) Russian paramilitaries whose presence in the Sahel, Central African Republic and (allegedly) Equatorial Guinea is likely to return to the spotlight as Ukraine and Russia try to strike a fragile peace deal.

submitted 24 days ago • 1 comment

🚨NEW EPISODE 🚨 This week we speak to @beverlyochieng.bsky.social, a self-described Wagner Group stalker, about what Russia is playing at in Africa. We're also talking about a Eurovision controversy, and why none of the world's tech giants come from Europe. www.europeanspodcast.com/all-episodes...

submitted 25 days ago • 1 comment

Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria are persisting in overtures to Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to reconsider their stance on ECOWAS. How is the Alliance of Sahel States challenging legacy institutions? @cnzuki.bsky.social and I discuss on @csis.org Africa's Afropolitan pod www.csis.org/podcasts/afr...

submitted 31 days ago • 0 comments

Kenya - now at the helm of the East African Community - has sought to increase its influence in the bloc through economic initiatives. For @csis.org Africa, I co-wrote a paper looking at how DR Congo's security crisis in the east has challenged and shaped these efforts.

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Mali's authorities project that they will raise $1.2bn by March from settling disputes with mining companies triggered by changes to the sector's regulations. They are also increasing taxes in the telecom sector to meet revenue demands. Brief comments from me in @economist.com econ.st/4hNxCgp

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www.theafricareport.com/377030/kenya...

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DR Congo's army and gov't have been further weakened as M23 rebels backed by Rwanda seized Bukavu. For @firstpost.bsky.social I highlight the regional fallout as the war in the east draws in neighbouring countries, the subregion amid inaction by the international community youtu.be/i_1MoMXnEZk?...

submitted 47 days ago • 0 comments

If you see this, quote with flowers from your gallery #bloomscrolling (Also what we left to begin blooming in Kenya because we are still rooted to home)

submitted 71 days ago • 1 comment

US-Africa ties are likely to become more transactional in the coming years amid reports that the new administration plans to cut aid and impose tariffs on trade rivals. Spoke to @aljazeeraenglish.bsky.social about how this may impact geopolitical alignments and supply chains youtu.be/bIyaRuNm88Q?...

submitted 71 days ago • 0 comments

Chad's presidential palace attack and Benin's deadliest militant raid underscore varied political and security risks that create a challenging, unpredictable operational environment. Spoke to @bloomberg.com TV about West and Central Africa's stability outlook www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/...

submitted 87 days ago • 1 comment

Een nieuw jaar, een nieuwe rel tussen Frankrijk en zijn voormalige koloniën in Afrika. "Je crois qu'il se trompe d'époque," zei de president van Tsjaad over Macron vandaag in zijn nieuwjaarstoespraak. Thanks @beverlyochieng.bsky.social for adding the necessary context 🙏

submitted 89 days ago • 1 comment

Chad calls out Macron for saying the quiet part out loud in reaction to the looming departure of French forces from Central and West Africa this year.

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West & Central African leaders are reshaping France's presence through nationalist policies that sustain their popular appeal, by reducing dependance on French forces and building resilient armies amid insurgencies and political fragility. I say more on @france24.com www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/...

submitted 93 days ago • 0 comments

Côte d'Ivoire's announcement of French troops leaving is likely aimed at deterring perceptions of France influencing internal politics amid elections later this year, and shows confidence in the army's efforts in forestalling the Sahel insurgency as I highlight on Firstpost youtu.be/p0JIBjGljrQ?...

submitted 95 days ago • 0 comments

As 2025 begins, Côte d'Ivoire becomes the latest to review its military ties with France. Will Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso - now the Alliance of Sahel States - perceive Abidjan with less mistrust as they prepare to officially leave ECOWAS and legitimise their confederation?

submitted 96 days ago • 0 comments

Bashar al-Assad's fall is likely to have a ripple effect on Russian engagement in Africa as Syria was the backbone of paramilitary operations. I discuss alternative bases and likely disruptions in the CAR and Sahel with @kasujja.bsky.social on BBC's Africa Daily pod www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

submitted 109 days ago • 0 comments

Burkina Faso produced its first gold bars earlier in December as it aims to assert greater economic empowerment through its extractives sector. I spoke to TRT TV about the symbolism of this for the sovereigntist junta and how the insurgency continues to impair development youtu.be/LBSgTpR65u4?...

submitted 110 days ago • 1 comment

Ecowas has given Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso a six-month grace period to reconsider the Sahel-exit, while the AES has said its region is open to West Africans as it needs to sustain its landlocked economy amid insurgencies and political instability. Here is some press on that:

submitted 112 days ago • 1 comment

In the past week, at least 110 soldiers and 70 civilians have reportedly been killed in separate attacks linked to Islamic State in Niger's western Tillabéri region, demonstrating intent and capacity for high impact ambushes and sustained pressure on key supply routes leading to Niamey.

submitted 116 days ago • 0 comments

Sooooo gonna watch this while closely reading the text for faithfulness

submitted 117 days ago • 0 comments

Russia's setback in Syria has raised questions over its commitments in the Sahel and CAR. Some thoughts on the immediate pressure on paramilitaries amid uncertainty about supplies and how African gov'ts may supplement counterinsurgency and regime protection www.theafricareport.com/370967/expla...

submitted 118 days ago • 0 comments

French foreign lesions: Colonial atrocities are finally catching up to Paris, and Macron’s government is too weak to put up a fight.

submitted 120 days ago • 3 comments

Chad and Senegal are the latest Francophone African countries to re-align their relationship with France, underscoring how injustices by former colonial governments serve as a potent political force. My latest in @thecontinent.org with many thanks to @simonallison.bsky.social and @namlyd.bsky.social

submitted 121 days ago • 1 comment

Niger is in control of Orano's Somair uranium subsidary in the latest assertion of sovereignty over natural resources in the Sahel, where military rule prevails. For Firstpost Africa, I highlight geopolitical tensions with France and unpredictable, nationalist regulations youtu.be/2dCjDj_q_j0?...

submitted 122 days ago • 0 comments

Personal favourite from the Dakar Biennale.

submitted 127 days ago • 0 comments

Catching up on some news from the week...From @beverlyochieng.bsky.social continent.substack.com/p/niger-word...

submitted 128 days ago • 0 comments

Chad recently released pro-Russian influencers that have used their presence in parts of the continent to popularise the Kremlin's diplomatic, commercial and security interests. A few thoughts from me in this profile of Shugalei on @bbcafrica1.bsky.social www.bbc.com/news/article...

submitted 130 days ago • 0 comments

By prioritising peace talks in areas where rebel movements cropped up, the military junta in Niamey may have secured its rule, and saved Nigerien lives, writes @beverlyochieng.bsky.social

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Niger's junta has been in dialogue with rebels, leading to the surrender of dozens of fighters, which may reduce the political influence of some of the groups' exiled leaders and maintain control on the outcome of wider talks on the transition. My analysis in this week's @thecontinent.bsky.social

submitted 135 days ago • 0 comments

Mali has reportedly released the CEO and two executives of Australia's Resolute mining amid a regulatory dispute that the company denies. I spoke to NYT about how increasingly challenging Mali will become for foreign investors and the future for mining operations www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/w...

submitted 137 days ago • 0 comments

Australia's Resolute Mining has agreed to pay Mali $160m for the release of its CEO and two executives detained amid negotiations on new mining regulations. I speak to The Guardian on the junta's resource nationalism and the future for Western-owned businesses www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

submitted 139 days ago • 0 comments

In Gabon, over 90% of voters support a new constitution that asserts the junta's power in future elections, Mali's interim prime minister questions the timeline of his own gov't transition and in Senegal, Pastef consolidates the assembly from provisional legislative poll results

submitted 140 days ago • 0 comments

If you look closely, there is a new moon

submitted 183 days ago • 0 comments

So glad to be part of this edition of @thecontinent.bsky.social So many thanks to @simonallison.bsky.social and Lydia Namubiru for bringing writing and images from the Sahel to life.

submitted 345 days ago • 0 comments

Lights out!

submitted 389 days ago • 0 comments