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Wagner vs. France: The Failure of Democracy in West Africa

June 17, 2025
Related topics: 
Security & Defense
Armed conflicts
Conflict resolution
International Relations
Sahel

In this episode of the Unpopular Opinion Podcast, Rida Lyammouri unpacks the escalating tensions between Mali and Algeria following the downing of a Malian drone. The conversation traces the historical roots of the crisis, examines the shortcomings of imposed peace agreements, and reviews the diplomatic fallout involving the AES states. It also sheds light on the collapse of regional institutions like ECOWAS and the African Union, while critically assessing the roles played by global powers such as France, Russia, and China. Finally, the discussion explores how growing youth support for military coups is reshaping the power landscape across the Sahel.

Speakers
Rida Lyammouri
Senior Fellow
Rida Lyammouri is a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS). He is also a senior West Africa and Lake Chad Basin researcher and advisor, with expertise in regional conflicts, violent extremism, climate change, migration, and trafficking. He specialises in analysing climate-conflict interactions in the Lake Chad Basin, West Africa, and the Sahel, studying resource scarcity, adaptive strategies, and socio-economic impacts. His multidisciplinary approach combines climate science and conflict analysis, offering insights into the region's climate-security nexus.       ...

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    SECURITY AND GOVERNENCE IN AFRICA: SAHEL AND LIBYA

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