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Mali-Algeria Tensions Escalate Amid Sahel Instability

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The accusation by Mali’s ruling military junta against Algeria for allegedly supporting Tuareg rebel groups has added a volatile layer to an already precarious situation in the Sahel region. This development underscores the complex dynamics of a region grappling with jihadism, fractured alliances, and deepening distrust among key players.

The Roots of Mali-Algeria Tensions

The accusations reflect long-standing tensions over the Tuareg issue. The Tuareg people, indigenous to the Sahara, have been at the heart of regional unrest for decades. Their repeated rebellions, particularly the 2012 insurgency, have sought autonomy or independence for Azawad, a region spanning northern Mali. While Algeria has historically positioned itself as a mediator in Mali’s internal conflicts, Bamako’s current claims suggest a shift in perceptions, with Algeria now being viewed as a destabilizing actor rather than a neutral arbiter.

Algeria’s alleged support for Tuareg factions may stem from its strategic interests. By maintaining influence over these groups, Algeria could be seeking to manage the spillover effects of instability in Mali and Niger, ensuring its own border security while preserving leverage in regional politics. However, this approach risks alienating Mali’s junta, which views any external engagement with armed groups in its territory as a threat to national sovereignty.

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Mali’s Geopolitical Shift and Ecowas Departure

Mali’s recent decision, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, to withdraw from the West African bloc Ecowas further complicates regional coordination. This withdrawal diminishes an already fragile collective effort to combat jihadism and address governance challenges. Mali’s accusations against Algeria may reflect a broader strategy to redefine its alliances, distancing itself from traditional partners and pivoting toward new or non-aligned actors, such as Russia.

The departure from Ecowas also signals Mali’s growing estrangement from regional frameworks that have historically managed crises. This fragmentation weakens the Sahel’s collective security architecture, providing opportunities for jihadist groups to exploit gaps in coordination.

The Tuareg Factor and Regional Implications

The Tuareg rebels, central to this controversy, have long been a wildcard in Sahel politics. Their pursuit of autonomy in Azawad has historically placed them at odds with Malian authorities, but their influence extends across borders, involving Algeria, Niger, and even Libya. Algeria’s alleged support for these groups could be interpreted as an attempt to counterbalance Mali’s growing militarization under its junta and to ensure stability within its own southern regions.

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For Mali, the Tuareg issue is inseparable from the broader jihadist threat. The overlap between insurgent groups and jihadist factions creates a highly combustible environment. Accusing Algeria of harboring and aiding these rebels may be a strategic attempt to delegitimize any peace processes that bypass Bamako’s control, while simultaneously rallying nationalistic sentiment domestically.

The deterioration of relations between Mali and Algeria is occurring against a backdrop of increasing regional instability. The Sahel is already a hotspot for jihadist violence, fueled by weak governance, porous borders, and competing foreign interests. As Mali shifts away from cooperation with Western-backed initiatives and leans on non-traditional allies like Russia, its relationship with neighboring Algeria becomes even more strained.

Algeria, for its part, may feel compelled to exert influence over Mali’s Tuareg factions as a counterbalance to the growing presence of external actors like Wagner Group mercenaries in the region. This strategic competition risks escalating tensions and undermining efforts to address the root causes of instability in the Sahel.

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A Fragmented Future

The accusations leveled by Mali’s junta against Algeria are symptomatic of a broader trend of fragmentation in the Sahel. As regional actors pursue divergent strategies and prioritize their own security interests, the collective fight against jihadism becomes increasingly untenable. Algeria’s alleged support for Tuareg rebels, whether substantiated or not, adds a layer of mistrust that complicates diplomatic efforts.

Moving forward, the Sahel’s stability will depend on rebuilding trust among regional actors, fostering inclusive dialogue with marginalized groups like the Tuareg, and addressing the socio-economic drivers of conflict. Without a unified approach, the region risks sliding further into chaos, with implications not just for Mali and Algeria but for the entire international community invested in countering terrorism and fostering stability in the Sahel.

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Analysis

Operation Rough Rider Escalates as UK Joins Trump’s Military Campaign Against Houthis

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The United Kingdom’s latest joint airstrike with the United States marks a new phase in the ongoing campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels—one that reveals both the deepening of transatlantic military coordination and the mounting complexity of Red Sea security.

On Tuesday night, British Typhoon fighter jets, in coordination with US forces, targeted a cluster of drone manufacturing sites south of Sanaa. The strikes were carried out with precision-guided bombs following extensive intelligence and planning. The Ministry of Defence in London emphasized that the mission was designed to minimize collateral damage, while sending a clear message of deterrence.

This strike—Britain’s first public acknowledgment of a joint operation since President Donald Trump launched Operation Rough Rider—signals a shift. It is no longer just about disruption of Houthi logistics, but about visible, sustained punishment of a group that has effectively paralyzed one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors. The Houthis’ attacks have caused a staggering 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea, according to UK Defense Secretary John Healey, with economic repercussions felt far beyond the Gulf.

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Since Trump initiated the campaign in March, over 800 US strikes have hammered Houthi infrastructure, including refineries, airports, missile depots, and now drone labs. Yet the results remain mixed. While dozens of senior Houthi officers are reported killed, the group’s ability to intercept American drones and continue attacks on commercial vessels shows it remains operationally resilient.

The UK’s renewed participation adds credibility to the broader Western coalition’s resolve—but it also increases the risks of mission creep, civilian casualties, and regional blowback. Already, allegations are surfacing. Just this week, the Houthis claimed that a US strike killed at least 68 African migrants held in a detention facility—an allegation now under investigation by CENTCOM.

What emerges is a complicated battlefield: Trump is pursuing a hard-power strategy to restore deterrence and freedom of navigation, but his campaign is being tested by asymmetric warfare, Iranian proxy dynamics, and humanitarian optics.

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As the Red Sea becomes increasingly militarized, the question looms: Will these strikes produce strategic deterrence, or draw the West deeper into a conflict that cannot be won from the air alone?

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Analysis

Somalia’s Airspace Ban Reveals China’s Grip—and Somaliland’s Rising Global Standing

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The Somali government’s latest directive banning entry to Taiwanese passport holders is more than a travel restriction—it’s a geopolitical message dictated from Beijing. In the guise of “UN compliance,” Mogadishu has escalated its hostility toward Somaliland and deepened its role as a regional surrogate for Chinese interests in the Horn of Africa.

Somaliland, unlike Somalia, has been a functioning democracy for over three decades. Its strategic and values-based partnership with Taiwan—cemented in 2020 with mutual representative offices—represents a rare model of cooperation between two self-governing, democratic entities facing isolation due to external political pressures. That model is precisely what threatens both Beijing and Mogadishu.

The so-called compliance with UN Resolution 2758 is a legal stretch. The resolution merely transferred the China seat at the UN to the People’s Republic of China—it says nothing about Taiwan’s sovereignty. This deliberate misreading, pushed aggressively by Beijing and now echoed by Somalia, is being used to block Taiwan’s global engagement—especially with democratic partners like Somaliland.

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The real message here is that Somalia is attempting to weaponize airspace control over a territory it no longer governs. Since 1991, Somaliland has reasserted its independence, conducted peaceful elections, built credible institutions, and attracted legitimate diplomatic interest from global partners like Taiwan, the UK, and the United States. That recognition is growing—and Somalia, under pressure from China, is reacting with desperate measures.

For Somaliland and its president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, this presents a strategic opportunity. The world is now watching Somalia’s China-backed aggression unfold in real time. This incident should trigger sharper diplomatic coordination between Somaliland and its allies. It underscores the urgent need for Somaliland to control its own airspace, protect its partners, and resist authoritarian overreach from both Mogadishu and Beijing.

If anything, this ban is proof that the Taiwan-Somaliland partnership is working—and rattling those who fear the emergence of new democratic alliances in East Africa. Somaliland’s measured, lawful, and values-driven diplomacy stands in stark contrast to Somalia’s politicized, externally manipulated retaliation.

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The answer isn’t silence—it’s greater visibility. Somaliland and Taiwan must continue to demonstrate what cooperation between free nations looks like. And democratic states across Africa and beyond must decide: Will they stand with authoritarian pressure—or with those who are building real governance from the ground up?

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Analysis

New Power Struggles in the Horn: Egypt and Russia Redraw the Map

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Two major diplomatic events have unfolded in the Horn of Africa within the past week: The state meeting between Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The official visit of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to Somalia.

Intelligence Analysis Report

Both events signal significant recalibrations of regional alignments, with direct implications for maritime security, foreign military presence, and great-power competition.

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The Horn of Africa has recently witnessed two notable diplomatic engagements that underscore the evolving geopolitical landscape in the region. These include the high-level meeting between Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Djibouti, as well as the visit by Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to Somalia on April 26, 2025.

Djibouti’s strengthening ties with Egypt reflect a broader strategic shift. As a host to key international military installations and a vital maritime logistics hub, Djibouti’s alignment with Egypt suggests a shared interest in enhancing regional maritime security and counterterrorism cooperation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Economic dimensions are also at play, with potential for expanded trade and investment. Egypt’s move to deepen relations with Djibouti appears aimed at countering the growing influence of Turkey, China, and Ethiopia in the region.

Conversely, Russia’s diplomatic overture in Somalia points to Moscow’s ambition to expand its footprint in the Horn of Africa. Bogdanov’s visit signals potential discussions around military cooperation, arms deals, and support for Somalia’s security infrastructure. Russia’s engagement may also be interpreted as an attempt to challenge Western dominance in the area, particularly that of the United States and European Union. In addition to geopolitical considerations, Somalia’s untapped natural resources, including possible hydrocarbon reserves, add an economic incentive to Russia’s interest.

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Together, these developments reflect an intensifying competition among global powers for influence in the Horn of Africa. Djibouti’s strategic positioning and Somalia’s emerging partnerships are reshaping alliances and security arrangements. The growing involvement of Egypt and Russia suggests that the Horn will continue to serve as a critical arena for geopolitical maneuvering, with significant implications for regional stability and global power dynamics.

Ongoing monitoring and strategic foresight will be essential to gauge the long-term consequences of these diplomatic movements and their impact on the balance of power in the region.

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Analysis

India Prepares for a Spectacular Strike on Pakistan

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Diplomatic leaks reveal India is not seeking peace talks — it’s building the case for decisive military action against Pakistan.

India Prepares for War: Building the Case for a Spectacular Strike on Pakistan

The world may soon witness the most dangerous India-Pakistan military escalation in years — and this time, New Delhi is making no apologies.

In the days since a horrific terrorist attack in Kashmir left 26 civilians dead, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved swiftly, briefing over 100 foreign diplomats and personally speaking to more than a dozen world leaders.

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But the message has been clear:
This is not a call for restraint. It’s a warning. India is preparing to strike.

Without explicitly naming Pakistan, Modi has vowed “severe punishment” and promised to raze “terror safe havens.” Indian officials, behind closed doors, have repeatedly linked the attack to Pakistan’s longstanding support for jihadist groups operating in Kashmir.

The technical evidence remains murky — facial recognition data, patterns of past attacks — but in the chaos of today’s fractured world order, India feels emboldened.
No major power is stepping in to urge caution.

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A World Distracted — A Window for Action

The United Nations and European Union have issued the usual platitudes for dialogue. Iran’s foreign minister has offered to mediate.
But the United States, locked in internal crises and foreign wars, has voiced only muted support for India’s pursuit of “justice.”

There is no ambassador in New Delhi.
There is no active diplomatic intervention.
And there is no real restraint.

If anything, India reads the global silence — especially from Washington — as a green light.

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Modi’s Playbook: Hit First, Talk Later

Analysts warn that Modi’s administration, learning from the 2019 Balakot incident, will not settle for a symbolic airstrike this time.
India is aiming for something spectacular — a strike that would inflict real political and military cost on Pakistan.

But the risks are enormous.

Pakistan’s military, already rattled by internal instability, has vowed to retaliate with force that would “match and exceed” any Indian move.
Both nations are nuclear-armed.
Both leaders are politically invested in appearing strong.

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The tit-for-tat cycle could spiral faster than in any previous confrontation.

Is Escalation Inevitable?

Unlike 2019, when responsibility for the terrorist attack was clear, this time claims of responsibility are murky.
A shadowy group called the “Resistance Front” emerged online — a name Indian officials privately link to Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistani-based terrorist network.

But formal evidence tying Pakistan’s government to the latest atrocity remains thin.
For India, the justification is simpler:
Pakistan’s hands are already stained with decades of bloodshed in Kashmir.

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Diplomats privately admit New Delhi’s case relies more on historic patterns than hard proof this time — a strategy fraught with risk.

Yet for Modi, the political stakes are clear:
After striking back in 2016 and 2019, doing nothing now would be seen as weakness.

The Clock Is Ticking

India and Pakistan’s “managed hostility” — as some call it — may survive another clash.
Or it may spiral into a regional catastrophe.

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Either way, the countdown has begun.
And this time, the world may be too distracted to stop it.

WARYATV will monitor this unfolding storm hour by hour.

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Analysis

Kenya Falls Deeper Into China’s Orbit – Signing 20 Deals

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China and Kenya elevate ties, signing 20 deals to deepen Belt and Road control and boost Beijing’s influence across Africa.

China Tightens Grip on Kenya as Xi and Ruto Forge “New Era” Alliance

While the world grapples with Beijing’s expanding shadow, Kenya just tightened the noose willingly.

On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kenyan President William Ruto agreed to elevate bilateral ties to what they proudly call a “China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era” — a thinly veiled move to deepen Kenya’s dependency on Chinese power structures while boosting China’s control over Africa’s strategic corridors.

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Xi wasted no time framing the deal in sweeping, imperial language: vowing to make Kenya an “example” of the China-Africa model, strengthen Belt and Road entrenchment, and lead the so-called “Global South” under China’s guidance. The symbolism couldn’t be clearer — Beijing isn’t just building roads anymore. It’s building regimes.

Under the agreement, the two leaders signed 20 new cooperation deals, expanding China’s reach into Kenyan high-tech sectors, infrastructure, education, tourism, media, and “people-to-people” propaganda networks. It’s a full-spectrum offensive designed to lock Kenya tighter into China’s long-term geopolitical designs.

In case the world had any doubts, Ruto declared Kenya’s full loyalty to Beijing’s agenda, reaffirming the “One China” policy and explicitly rejecting Taiwan’s sovereignty — echoing the exact rhetoric Beijing demands from its vassal states.

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The timing is no accident. As trade wars escalate and the U.S. and its allies work to push back against China’s economic warfare, Xi is fast-tracking African dependencies. Kenya, once seen as a potential balancing actor, now looks poised to become a flagship outpost for Beijing’s economic empire on the African continent.

In exchange for railroads like the Mombasa-Nairobi line — now loaded with Chinese debt — Ruto has effectively offered up Kenya’s strategic autonomy. At the Great Hall of the People, Xi and Ruto celebrated the expansion of Belt and Road domination with grand ceremonies and banquet feasts, but behind the gold drapes lies a darker reality: Africa’s critical corridors are slipping into Chinese control without a fight.

Xi openly called for deeper financial “integration,” code for binding Kenya to Chinese lenders and markets, and painted Kenya as a “stabilizer” to help China challenge international trade norms set by the West. Ruto played along, warning against “trade wars” while applauding China’s global role as a “stabilizer” — a statement that echoes Xi’s anti-Western narrative almost word for word.

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For Kenya, the price of loyalty may soon become clear: crushing debts, political capture, and a slow erosion of real sovereignty under Beijing’s careful hand.

For Africa — and the world — this is a powerful wake-up call.

As China cements its hold on yet another key African partner, the stakes are rising. Fast.

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Analysis

The Rise of Russia’s African Empire: Moscow’s March to the Atlantic

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As the U.S. disengages, Russia entrenches itself in Africa — arming juntas, toppling Western influence, and redrawing the global map.

Russia isn’t just playing defense on Ukraine—it’s building an empire in Africa. From the Sahel to the Atlantic coast, Moscow is turning instability into strategy. What the West sees as chaos, the Kremlin sees as opportunity. And it’s capitalizing fast.

The Trump administration’s focus on Eastern Europe has left Africa dangerously exposed. While the U.S. exits Niger and France retreats from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal, Russia is stepping in—with weapons, mercenaries, and deals. And make no mistake: this isn’t charity. This is conquest by proxy.

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In Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—the heart of the new Alliance of Sahel States—military juntas backed by Moscow have severed ties with France and the U.S., forming a regional force under Russian guidance. With 5,000 troops poised to reshape the Sahel, Western-backed frameworks like G5 Sahel are being dismantled. In their place? Russian-dominated command centers and Wagner-led operations.

Wagner PMC, far from being a rogue outfit, is the Kremlin’s hand in Africa’s affairs. From diamond mines in the Central African Republic to military bases in Libya, it embeds deeply, restructures loyalties, and leaves Moscow with leverage. In many African capitals, Wagner is more influential than any ambassador.

But Putin’s ambitions don’t stop at the Sahel. Lavrov’s 2023 visit to Mauritania, a key Atlantic state, signals a coastal pivot. Russia wants the Atlantic flank—naval access, trade routes, and digital infrastructure. And it’s using soft power, narratives of anti-colonial solidarity, and military dependence to get there.

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Washington is watching—but not reacting. As Trump pursues a Ukraine deal with Putin, the Kremlin is racking up wins in Africa. China and Iran are also in sync, forming a trilateral axis to counter Western influence in every sphere—military, digital, and ideological.

Bottom line: Africa is no longer a battlefield for hearts and minds—it’s now a staging ground for great power competition. Russia isn’t just back. It’s building a new empire, and if the U.S. doesn’t act, NATO will find its southern flank compromised not by bullets, but by silence.

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Analysis

How Iran Is Using China to Hedge Against the U.S.

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Iran-China Alliance Strengthens Amid U.S. Nuclear Talks — Beijing Becomes Tehran’s New Insurance Policy.

As Iran prepares for another round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States in Oman, it is simultaneously tightening its embrace with China — and not quietly. Tehran has declared 2025 a potential “golden year” in Iran-China relations. This is more than diplomatic flattery; it is a calculated hedge. Iran’s leadership is betting that Beijing will provide a geopolitical counterweight to Washington as the regime navigates unprecedented economic and political pressure.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s trip to Beijing this week was not just another routine meeting. He called the talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi “lengthy but highly significant,” covering everything from bilateral economic cooperation to the global ambitions of U.S. power. It’s clear that Tehran is not merely looking for trade — it’s looking for insurance. And China, locked in its own rivalry with Washington, is willing to provide it.

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This partnership is built on mutual grievance: both nations denounce U.S. “hegemonic behavior” and seek to undermine the current Western-dominated order. Iran sees in China a lifeline — politically, economically, and diplomatically. With oil revenues still under sanctions and the U.S. pressuring its proxies across the region, Iran hopes that a powerful friend in Beijing will tilt the balance in its favor.

President Masoud Pezeshkian’s planned visits to China and Azerbaijan, alongside the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, signal a larger strategy: diversify alliances, elevate visibility, and escape the stranglehold of Western isolation.

But the stakes are high. If the nuclear talks with the U.S. collapse, Tehran will need China more than ever — for cash, technology, weapons, and legitimacy. If the talks succeed, Iran still wants China close, to resist future Western attempts to reimpose pressure.

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Bottom line: Iran isn’t placing all its bets on Washington — it’s building a parallel track with Beijing. In a year filled with diplomatic maneuvering, Tehran hopes China will be more than a partner. It wants a patron. And 2025 may be the year it gets one.

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Analysis

Franco-German Fireworks or Fragile Fantasy?

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Merz and Macron ignite a new EU vision—but it’s built on shaky ground. Behind the public romance between France and Germany lies a storm of unresolved tensions. Can Merz and Macron truly redefine Europe, or is this just another act in Brussels’ endless theatre of delusion? 

When Friedrich Merz chose Paris for his first foreign visit, pundits swooned. A conservative hawk from Berlin shaking hands with Emmanuel Macron—the Europhile poster boy—was heralded as the rebirth of the so-called Franco-German “engine” of Europe. But beyond the photo ops and flowery rhetoric lies a deeper truth: this new political marriage is laced with contradictions, mistrust, and strategic desperation.

Yes, Macron finally sees in Merz a partner who isn’t hypnotized by Washington’s shadow. Merz has echoed France’s call for “strategic autonomy” and even suggested that Europe must stop depending on the U.S. for its geopolitical security. That shift would be seismic—if it were sincere.

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But Merz is no De Gaulle. He’s a fiscal hawk, backed by conservatives terrified of debt and allergic to the very kind of joint EU borrowing Macron sees as vital for defense investment. The idea of Eurobonds to boost EU arms production? Forget it. Merz’s lips may say “Oui,” but his parliament screams “Nein.”

On trade, the contradiction widens. Merz is obsessed with pushing through the Mercosur deal to save Germany’s export economy. Macron? He’s trapped between his neoliberal instincts and the rage of French farmers ready to torch the deal in protest. The only likely compromise? A cynical abstention, dressed up as diplomacy.

Then there’s energy. France wants subsidies for nuclear power. Germany wants hydrogen flowing from Spain. The pipeline project remains stalled. Defense projects, too—like the SCAF fighter jet—are bogged down by mistrust and national egos. For every handshake, there’s a hidden dagger.

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The truth? This so-called “new chapter” is a crisis management romance, born of fear: fear of Trump’s return, fear of NATO decay, fear of China’s rise. But it’s not built on shared values. It’s built on shared panic.

So can the Franco-German engine power Europe’s future? Maybe. But only if both leaders stop playing games—and start confronting the deep fractures beneath the surface.

Until then, it’s not a honeymoon. It’s a photo op on borrowed time.

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