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By Vivian Lowery Derryck
President and CEO of The Bridges Institute

Mali burst onto the international scene in January 2012 when disgruntled fighters returning from Libya renewed their interest in a separate state carved from territory in northern Mali.  Their success in destabilizing the north led to a March coup, UN resolutions, the formation of an ECOWAS force, a French intervention, kidnapping and chaos in Amenas, Algeria, internal displacement of more than 204,000 persons, plus refugee flows of more than 200,000 to Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Niger—and that’s not the half of it.

Watching from Washington, I thought that those in the Africanist community who cared deeply about Mali should form a “watch” to involve civil society in monitoring the situation.  In Addis, at the 2012 African Union Summit, I asked Malians if a watch would be helpful, but Malian friends and colleagues said that a watch would be premature because they had not determined their own goals.  So I waited.

By Ann L. Phillips
Recent Public Policy Scholar at the Wilson Center

The U.S. Government has made clear that stabilization missions requiring deployment of large numbers of personnel—military and civilian—are not on the agenda for the foreseeable future.  Not only budget constraints but also sobering experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced a strategic shift. As the U.S. draws down its presence in Afghanistan, it’s fair to say that the lives lost and billions spent to stabilize the country and provide a foundation for Afghan development have not produced progress commensurate with the effort.  In early 2012, the Pentagon released its strategic defense guidance, “Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21^st Century Defense,” which underscored a new reliance on Special Forces, technology, and intelligence to protect and promote U.S. national security interests.  Drones have become a centerpiece in the new approach; the ramifications of which are already visible in hotspots around the globe.  In Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia, the U.S. deploys drones in increasing numbers to gather intelligence and to kill high value insurgent and terrorist targets. In Africa, drones outfitted only to gather intelligence at this time are front and center in U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. The underlying goal of these new efforts is to monitor extremist groups and to help shape an inhospitable environment for them in Mali, Nigeria and Niger.

8 February 2013

Continue reading for news including France asking UN Peacekeepers to takeover in Mali, the push for a stronger development agenda by Dlamini-Zuma, crowdsourcing increasing development in Africa, Kenya seeking clarification on relationship with the U.S. after their elections, ancient manuscripts saved in Timbuktu, Kenya set to withdraw troops in Somalia, progress being made in the issue of water for Africa, and Uganda returning misappropriated aid to Norway.

4 February 2013

Continue reading for articles concerning France’s hope for security in Timbuktu, diaspora remittances aiding peace in Somalia, plans for an EAC climate change fund, Zainab Bangura’s views on the fight against sexual violence, and stolen artifacts returned to Nigeria.

December 12, 2012

Recent stories including an assessment of African leaders in 2012, coalitions formed in Kenya, troubles for the DRC peace negotiations, new prime minister appointed in Mali, the need for support of small farmers in Africa, Museveni placed to take a pan-African leadership role, and investment in Somaliland.

To read the full, original article, visit the Al Jazeera site here

African leaders have endorsed a plan to send a 3,300-strong force to wrest control of northern Mali from Islamist fighters, as fears grow over risks they pose to the region and beyond.

November 14, 2012

By David Zounmenou, Senior Researcher & Dimpho Motsamai- Researcher: Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis Division, ISS Pretoria

Grand Mosque of Djenné