La Françafrique Pt.2: Enter the Russians

Conflicted is back, continuing our trip across La Françafrique this
week, with a survey of the last 10 years in Francophone West
Africa, and yes, you guessed it: it’s insurgencies, jihadi
movements and coups galore! Thomas and Aimen open up with a
discussion of the anti-jihadist activities being carried out by the
French in the Sahel since 2013, including the infamous operations
Serval and Barkhane. But as jihadi movements grew, the French found
themselves in hot water, which got even hotter as a new player
entered the fray: the Russians, in the guise of the Wagner Group.
We then discuss how the Wagner Group operates in the area, coming
in after a coups across the region to cause France’s influence to
dwindle, and making instability become the plat du jour for many
West African countries. Will the region ever get out of it? New
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