Nina Wilen
LightNews LightNews
ninawilen.bsky.social
Nina Wilen
@ninawilen.bsky.social
1.5K followers 380 following 240 posts
Dir. Africa Program Egmont Institute, Assoc Prof Lund University, xEIC International Peacekeeping. Research on military, Sahel & Great Lakes, peacekeeping, gender, interventions
Posts Replies Media Videos
ninawilen.bsky.social
"Officials from African countries including #Angola, #DRC #Gabon, #Guinea, & #Nigeria attended a critical #minerals summit in Washington...African engagement is necessary to its efforts to dismantle #Beijing’s chokehold on the list of #CRM that Washington imports"
foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/04/u...
What Will the U.S. Critical Minerals Summit Mean for Africa?
How African nations fit into the Trump administration’s plans to combat China.
foreignpolicy.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:43 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
"A 9-day #BRICS + #naval exercise..underscored #China’s growing use of #military power in #Africa..#Iran ’s first-ever participation marks a significant departure...The #PLA has conducted three #military exercises in Africa in the past 18 months" #Russia
africacenter.org/spotlight/ch...
China’s Military Footprint in Africa Deepens with People’s Liberation Army-led BRICS Naval Drills
China’s efforts to integrate Africa into its global security architectures risk Africa’s longstanding preference to avoid being pulled into competing geopolitical camps.
africacenter.org
February 2, 2026 at 3:33 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
"Both #JNIM and #ISSP launched #kidnapping campaigns targeting foreigners, which drove record-high instances of kidnapping in #Mali and #Niger"

⭐ A special mention goes to the #UAE for paying a record ransom of 50$ million to JNIM...😑

#Sahel #ISIS #jihad #terror

acleddata.com/report/econo...
Economic warfare escalates as militants expand beyond the Sahel
Previously distinct conflicts in the Sahel and coastal West Africa are merging into a single, interconnected one that will likely become a key arena of militant competition.
acleddata.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:41 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
“My father..did everything he could to make sure that the children got an education. This was before #gender discourses & all that, but he was already gendered.”

▶️ The importance of support from #men for #girls to get an education in unequal societies.

www.egmontinstitute.be/how-do-women...
How Do Women in Niger Crush the Glass Ceiling? - Egmont Institute
Abstract Patriarchal norms across West Africa curtail women’s education and employment opportunities, with Niger standing as an extreme example. However, a small minority of Nigerien women succeed in ...
www.egmontinstitute.be
January 27, 2026 at 8:23 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
"#Russia offered personal protection to the Malagasy leader..#Putin intends to add #Madagascar to the growing list of African countries...following the same pattern of protection and #military cooperation in exchange for access to #resources"
#Africa #coup
english.elpais.com/internationa...
Russian Africa Corps mercenaries incorporate Madagascar into their expansion across the continent
The pattern of military cooperation in exchange for resources that originated in the Central African Republic and later spread to the Sahel is growing
english.elpais.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:14 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
“Until the last few days, when I told them about #Iceland, they loved me. They called me ‘Daddy"

Yes, this is for real.
This is a president confusing which country he wants to annex & referring to himself as 'daddy' (thanks Rutte..)

#NATO #US #Ice.. #Greenland
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump appears to confuse Greenland with Iceland in speech on taking territory
President repeats his ambition of taking Danish territory in front of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland
www.independent.co.uk
January 22, 2026 at 10:05 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
Wow. What a speech.
Mark Carney just reminded us that in spite of a deeply disturbing global situation, there are world leaders who can inspire us to go towards a brighter future (and he did this while speaking in full, grammatically correct sentences):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=btqH...
www.youtube.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:33 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
📣 New publication!

❓How do #women in #Niger crush the glassceiling?

We find w #NinaSoudan:
3 adaptive strategies navigate patriarchal structures:

➡️ Male support
➡️ Balancing private& professional lives
➡️ Academic Excellency

🌐 www.egmontinstitute.be/how-do-women...
#equality #gender #strategy
January 20, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Reposted by Nina Wilen
egmontinstitute.bsky.social
📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by @ninawilen.bsky.social & Nina Soudan
@egmontinstitute.bsky.social

“How Do Women in Niger Crush the Glass Ceiling?”

#Niger #WestAfrica #GenderEquality ##GlassCeiling #GenderRelations #EgmontInstitute

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👉 tinyurl.com/mt9shk7j
January 20, 2026 at 9:32 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
Wow, 2026, we are barely 3 weeks in & some #NATO countries are deploying to defend an ally from #annexation (yes, because that’s now a buzz word again) from yet another NATO member whose president wants the peace prize… (erhm) & GETS IT 😑

#Venezuela #Greenland #sovereignty #intervention #surrealism
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
"11 countries planning to hold #elections in 2026...

In 4 of 11 countries (#Uganda..#Congo, #Djibouti, & South #Sudan), presidents have been in power for at least 15 years...

... #Somalia & #Ethiopia will be holding elections amid ongoing armed #conflict"

#Africa

africacenter.org/spotlight/en...
January 15, 2026 at 1:28 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
"#US has descended into competitive #authoritarianism...What makes self-censorship so insidious is that it is..impossible to ascertain its full impact..the public..never know how many editors have softened headlines..or opted not to run certain news items"
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
The Price of American Authoritarianism
What can reverse democratic decline?
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:24 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
"Democrats are playing by the rules of a game that no longer exists. They are relying on cautious diplomacy while their opponents have become more ruthless...& better networked"
#Democracy #authoritarianism #elections #disinformation #HumanRights

www.foreignaffairs.com/china/illibe...
The Illiberal International
Authoritarian cooperation is reshaping the global order.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:11 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
"One emerging trend might be dubbed the “Russification of the #US,” at the heart of which lies #ideology...

..today, the Republican electorate— & #MAGA..is far more aligned with #Russia than its traditional conservative counterparts in #Europe"

shs.cairn.info/journal-poli...
shs.cairn.info
January 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
I was happy interviewed about my book "Securitizing the Sahel: Analysing External Interventions and their Consequences" by #alexthurston for his Weekly Newsletter!

You can read the whole interview here: alexthurston.substack.com/p/seven-ques...

Book: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Seven Questions for Dr. Nina Wilén on European Security Programs in the Sahel
"[Many European trainers] really felt disillusioned with what they were supposed to do and what they actually ended up doing."
alexthurston.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:11 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
"Although he had initially pledged not to run for president after seizing power four years ago, #Doumbouya ultimately stood for #election in a race in which all main opposition leaders were barred"

#Guinea #coup #impunity #Africa #regime
www.barrons.com/news/guinea-...
Guinea's Doumbouya To Be Sworn In As President Jan 17
Guinea's junta leader Mamady Doumbouya will be sworn in as president on January 17 following his electoral victory last month, the presidency announced Tuesday on social media.
www.barrons.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:38 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
Here we go again:
#China 's foreign minister 1st tour abroad always go to #Africa:
"strategic #trade access across eastern & southern Africa as #Beijing seeks to secure key #shipping routes & #resource #supply lines"
Leaders in #Europe should take note
#strategy #trade
www.msn.com/en-us/news/w...
MSN
www.msn.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:32 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
✨A nice start of the year with this great review of my book: ✨
"Securitizing the #Sahel" by Lawrence Kline

🌐 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

#Niger #Mali #Burkina #Chad #France #MINUSMA #EUTM #Belgium #security #military #US
January 2, 2026 at 4:43 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
“ #Russia ‘s draft budget for 2026 shows #Putin is budgeting $1.77 billion for state #media and #propaganda, an increase of 7 percent over 2025, and 28 percent over pre-#Ukraine invasion levels in 2021…

…That’s $34 million a week”

#Europe #EU

alexzfinley.substack.com/p/trump-russ...

#Europe #EU
Trump, Russia, and the coming collapse of the information space
Another uplifting Rant! Happy Friday!
alexzfinley.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
Excellent and deeply frightening interactive map of #Russia’s #sabotage campaign in #Europe since the full scale invasion of #Ukraine

Should make sure we remember who our #enemy is among disinformation and disturbing narratives from (former) allies…

apnews.com/projects/rus...
December 30, 2025 at 1:18 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
“The new National #Security #Strategy.. is..the biggest self-own in foreign policy…
The NSS looks to end the Western security architecture…led by the US since the end of
WWII& that is largely responsible for the US’s unprecedented wealth and prosperity.”

alexzfinley.substack.com/p/trump-the-...
Trump, the Bus Driver
Heading straight toward a cliff
alexzfinley.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 10:25 PM
ninawilen.bsky.social
❓ Why are 1200 Belgian troops, 180 vehicles & 2 A400M deployed to #Gabon for over a month?

✍ I am arguing that such a major deployment in the current #security environment is a welcome sign of renewed focus by Belgian #Defence on #Africa in my latest @egmontinstitute.bsky.social brief

#Belgium
December 11, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Nina Wilen
egmontinstitute.bsky.social
📄𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 by @ninawilen.bsky.social
@egmontinstitute.bsky.social
"Belgian Defense Going Tropical: A Return in Focus to Africa"
#BelgianDefense #AfricaPolicy #SecurityAndDefense #EUForeignPolicy #AfricaSecurity #PeaceAndSecurity #TropicalStormExercise
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 👉 tinyurl.com/d43jau24
December 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
ninawilen.bsky.social
📢 What will happen to the thousands of militaries involved in the #war between #Russia & #Ukraine ? 🧵

We highlight 2 scenarios:

1️⃣ Integrating +/- 500,000 #battle-hardened soldiers with #trauma & #PTSD => #security risks & risks for #peace building 1)

www.egmontinstitute.be/when-the-war...
December 10, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Reposted by Nina Wilen
theins.press
Russian soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine have killed or injured over 1,000 people, investigation finds

At least 551 people have been killed by returning veterans, more than half by former convicts, according to independent outlet Verstka.
Russian soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine have killed or injured over 1,000 people, investigation finds
Over nearly four years of war in Ukraine, Russian veterans of the so-called “special military operation” returning from the front have killed or injured more than 1,000 people, according to a joint in...
theins.press
December 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM