Satan’s Chariot: Mercenary trouble in Mali

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Alia is joined by Wassim Nasr, the veteran French journalist for France24 and Senior Fellow at the Soufan Center. Wassim talks us through the spectacular April 25th offensive across Mali by JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate that looks set to soon make a play to take over the whole country. They discuss the setbacks of the Wagner Group – now Africa Corps – campaign to roll back the jihadist advance in Mali, as well as the Kremlin’s goals in the Sahel. Wassim offers his views on the way forward in Mali, and whether it makes sense to negotiate with an al-Qaeda ally like JNIM. Alia and Wassim also cover the high risk of JNIM defections to the Islamic State.

The Guns for Hire podcast is written, produced and hosted by Dr Alia Brahimi. 

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