Aneliese Bernard
@anelieseb.bsky.social
Director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors. At one point worked at State Dept., now a pen for hire. Thoughts on politics are my own, posts on West African terrorism, policy, and security are sometimes informed.
We've launched a blog! Read about how West Africa’s borderlands are dynamic spaces where trade, stability, and risk converge. Our inaugural blogpost explains why investors in frontier markets must pay attention to borderland trade, security and politics: www.stabilizationadvisors.com/blog/life-on...
Blog — Strategic Stabilization Advisors
www.stabilizationadvisors.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:18 PM
We've launched a blog! Read about how West Africa’s borderlands are dynamic spaces where trade, stability, and risk converge. Our inaugural blogpost explains why investors in frontier markets must pay attention to borderland trade, security and politics: www.stabilizationadvisors.com/blog/life-on...
The work we're doing in Benin at Strategic Stabilization Advisors is in the press!
Benin is trying a bold approach to stop jihadist threats from moving south: empower communities to co-lead security.
Strategic Stabilization Advisors is proud to support this work. 🧵
Benin is trying a bold approach to stop jihadist threats from moving south: empower communities to co-lead security.
Strategic Stabilization Advisors is proud to support this work. 🧵
July 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The work we're doing in Benin at Strategic Stabilization Advisors is in the press!
Benin is trying a bold approach to stop jihadist threats from moving south: empower communities to co-lead security.
Strategic Stabilization Advisors is proud to support this work. 🧵
Benin is trying a bold approach to stop jihadist threats from moving south: empower communities to co-lead security.
Strategic Stabilization Advisors is proud to support this work. 🧵
How do female soldiers shape trust, legitimacy, and security coordination in northern Benin?
SSA x SOCAF’s new study explores gender dynamics in the armed forces — where it matters most.
DM us to discuss. #WPS #SSA #SOCAF #Benin #SecuritySectorReform
SSA x SOCAF’s new study explores gender dynamics in the armed forces — where it matters most.
DM us to discuss. #WPS #SSA #SOCAF #Benin #SecuritySectorReform
July 9, 2025 at 12:36 PM
How do female soldiers shape trust, legitimacy, and security coordination in northern Benin?
SSA x SOCAF’s new study explores gender dynamics in the armed forces — where it matters most.
DM us to discuss. #WPS #SSA #SOCAF #Benin #SecuritySectorReform
SSA x SOCAF’s new study explores gender dynamics in the armed forces — where it matters most.
DM us to discuss. #WPS #SSA #SOCAF #Benin #SecuritySectorReform
I spoke with @washingtonpost.com about the undeterred expansion of jihadism from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger into Benin and Togo. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
A powerful, opaque al-Qaeda affiliate is rampaging across West Africa
With up to 6,000 fighters, JNIM is now the most well-armed militant force in the Sahel — and among the most powerful in the world, officials and experts say.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I spoke with @washingtonpost.com about the undeterred expansion of jihadism from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger into Benin and Togo. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
These actions - gutting U.S. foreign policy instruments - benefits only America's adversaries. It is mind boggling how anyone can support these policy choices and consider themselves a patriot.
NEW: I’ve seen a doc circulating w/ details of a relatively major State Dept reorg to be announced soon, maybe Tuesday.
It has a LOT of stuff. “Significantly downscales” US embassy in Ottawa and limits consular officers to 10. Closes all “non-essential” embassies/consulates in Sun-Saharan Africa.
It has a LOT of stuff. “Significantly downscales” US embassy in Ottawa and limits consular officers to 10. Closes all “non-essential” embassies/consulates in Sun-Saharan Africa.
April 20, 2025 at 2:58 AM
These actions - gutting U.S. foreign policy instruments - benefits only America's adversaries. It is mind boggling how anyone can support these policy choices and consider themselves a patriot.
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
Niger withdraws from La Francophonie as it continues to reject any institutional form of what it perceives to be France's political, linguistic, military and economic influence.
March 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Niger withdraws from La Francophonie as it continues to reject any institutional form of what it perceives to be France's political, linguistic, military and economic influence.
Benin's Alibori department (neighboring Niger and the Park W-Arly-Pendjari complex) continues to experience violent jihadist activity. The military continues to push onward, dismantling small cells, but JNIM remains active, an extension of of the eastern Burkina cell. www.voanews.com/a/gunmen-1-s...
10 gunmen, 1 soldier killed in northern Benin attack
Overnight Thursday into Friday, army launched 'an offensive operation' that led to 'the neutralization of nine terrorists,' a source close to military high command says
www.voanews.com
March 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Benin's Alibori department (neighboring Niger and the Park W-Arly-Pendjari complex) continues to experience violent jihadist activity. The military continues to push onward, dismantling small cells, but JNIM remains active, an extension of of the eastern Burkina cell. www.voanews.com/a/gunmen-1-s...
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
"The #Sahel remained the most lethal theater on the continent for the fourth year in a row. There were an estimated 10,400 deaths linked to militant Islamist violence in the Sahel in 2024. This comprises 55 percent of all related fatalities for the continent."
africacenter.org/spotlight/mi...
africacenter.org/spotlight/mi...
February 22, 2025 at 5:09 PM
"The #Sahel remained the most lethal theater on the continent for the fourth year in a row. There were an estimated 10,400 deaths linked to militant Islamist violence in the Sahel in 2024. This comprises 55 percent of all related fatalities for the continent."
africacenter.org/spotlight/mi...
africacenter.org/spotlight/mi...
Violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qeada continues to worsen in W. Africa & Benin. Meanwhile U.S. security assistance to Benin was abruptly stopped and possibly cancelled under Trump’s stop work order. Read more about it in this piece I was quoted in: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
February 16, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qeada continues to worsen in W. Africa & Benin. Meanwhile U.S. security assistance to Benin was abruptly stopped and possibly cancelled under Trump’s stop work order. Read more about it in this piece I was quoted in: www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
JNIM has broad control over much of the Est region, and is using that control to launch increasingly sophisticated and large attacks in Benin as well as Niger.
09.01 Burkina Faso 🇧🇫
Eastern Region, Gourma Province
Fuongué, Loargou, Boumkpa, villages located near Diabo have suffered two successive terrorist attacks.
JNIM terrorists massacred civilians including several women and children in front of a mosque.
Eastern Region, Gourma Province
Fuongué, Loargou, Boumkpa, villages located near Diabo have suffered two successive terrorist attacks.
JNIM terrorists massacred civilians including several women and children in front of a mosque.
February 11, 2025 at 12:27 PM
JNIM has broad control over much of the Est region, and is using that control to launch increasingly sophisticated and large attacks in Benin as well as Niger.
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
"By the end of the year #France will close all its permanent bases on the continent, besides #Djibouti..A rotating average of..100 soldiers will be stationed ..in Abidjan & a..base in Libreville..for training purposes"
#Gabon #Ivorycoast #Sahel
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
#Gabon #Ivorycoast #Sahel
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
February 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
"By the end of the year #France will close all its permanent bases on the continent, besides #Djibouti..A rotating average of..100 soldiers will be stationed ..in Abidjan & a..base in Libreville..for training purposes"
#Gabon #Ivorycoast #Sahel
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
#Gabon #Ivorycoast #Sahel
www.economist.com/middle-east-...
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
I missed this particular travesty during my travels. Beyond the fact that it’s nonsense, has anyone bothered to tell Rubio that best way to diminish U.S. national interests in the world is, you know, not showing up?
February 7, 2025 at 5:28 AM
I missed this particular travesty during my travels. Beyond the fact that it’s nonsense, has anyone bothered to tell Rubio that best way to diminish U.S. national interests in the world is, you know, not showing up?
Overseas friends and colleagues messaging me asking if there was a coup… I think it’s more of the “Elon has “weekend at Bernie’s” trump” variety, but irregardless none of this is legal.
February 3, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Overseas friends and colleagues messaging me asking if there was a coup… I think it’s more of the “Elon has “weekend at Bernie’s” trump” variety, but irregardless none of this is legal.
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
This is a hostile takeover of the federal government by a private citizen of unlimited means with no restrictions and no transparency. Welcome to the Deep State www.reuters.com/world/us/mus...
Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say
Aides to Elon Musk charged with running the U.S. government human resources agency have locked career civil servants out of computer systems that contain the personal data of millions of federal employees, according to two agency officials.
www.reuters.com
January 31, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This is a hostile takeover of the federal government by a private citizen of unlimited means with no restrictions and no transparency. Welcome to the Deep State www.reuters.com/world/us/mus...
And there was no penalty imposed on the AES states, thus setting a precedent for other states to make the same move…
Today is West Africa's "Brexit" day
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/29/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/29/w...
Three Countries Officially Quit Major West African ECOWAS Alliance
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger accused the bloc of having double standards in punishing their military juntas. Negotiations failed to change their minds.
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
And there was no penalty imposed on the AES states, thus setting a precedent for other states to make the same move…
The particular focus on eliminating science grants… is terrifying to say the least.
Oh look, another core project 2025 plan being implemented, despite everyone being told over and over not to worry about it: chcoc.gov/sites/defaul...
chcoc.gov
January 27, 2025 at 7:29 PM
The particular focus on eliminating science grants… is terrifying to say the least.
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
For a decade now folks have been asking journalists to engage in the smallest bit of reflection on how they’re responsible for normalizing Trump and his policy positions and have been met with sneering condescension, so this is a refreshing admission of culpability when viewed correctly.
The reason many in the press were happy to see Biden’s comms team go is because it routinely ghosted us, dropped us from email chains, ignored requests, acted elitist, spoke down to some and indifferent to others. I have covered every POTUS since Reagan. No admin had a more incompetent comms staff
January 23, 2025 at 1:04 PM
For a decade now folks have been asking journalists to engage in the smallest bit of reflection on how they’re responsible for normalizing Trump and his policy positions and have been met with sneering condescension, so this is a refreshing admission of culpability when viewed correctly.
Press corps showing who they really are… goddamn
The reason many in the press were happy to see Biden’s comms team go is because it routinely ghosted us, dropped us from email chains, ignored requests, acted elitist, spoke down to some and indifferent to others. I have covered every POTUS since Reagan. No admin had a more incompetent comms staff
January 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Press corps showing who they really are… goddamn
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
🇧🇫🇳🇪| Four #Moroccan truck drivers were reported missing this morning between #Burkina’s Dori and #Niger’s Tera. This area is known to be an #IS stronghold, suggesting this may be the third kidnapping of foreign nationals linked to the group in the space of days.
January 19, 2025 at 3:56 PM
🇧🇫🇳🇪| Four #Moroccan truck drivers were reported missing this morning between #Burkina’s Dori and #Niger’s Tera. This area is known to be an #IS stronghold, suggesting this may be the third kidnapping of foreign nationals linked to the group in the space of days.
Professor Drezner on Yarvin: “It’s like listening to a stoned, first-year MBA student who read his father’s outdated history books when he was a teenager and half-remembers them…” No notes.
January 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Professor Drezner on Yarvin: “It’s like listening to a stoned, first-year MBA student who read his father’s outdated history books when he was a teenager and half-remembers them…” No notes.
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
This is an excellent and thought-provoking piece from Alex Thurston (not sure if he's on Blue Sky yet) about JNIM and attacks on Sufism in Mali: alexthurston.substack.com/p/mali-jnim-... Some initial thoughts, with some recent historical context to try to situate this a bit differently. 1/14
Mali: JNIM Attacks Key Symbols of Sufism
In Nioro du Sahel, JNIM showed that no one is off limits.
alexthurston.substack.com
January 16, 2025 at 10:45 PM
This is an excellent and thought-provoking piece from Alex Thurston (not sure if he's on Blue Sky yet) about JNIM and attacks on Sufism in Mali: alexthurston.substack.com/p/mali-jnim-... Some initial thoughts, with some recent historical context to try to situate this a bit differently. 1/14
Reposted by Aneliese Bernard
Burhan's visit to Mali was noteworthy, particularly as there are indications of an increased presence of RSF-linked businesspeople active in the Sahel: www.maliweb.net/economie/coo... The Sahel is increasingly a part of much broader regional and international geopolitics beyond just China and Wagner
Coopération : Fin de la visite de 48 h du président soudanais le Général Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan au Mali | maliweb.net
maliweb.net - Premier site d'info | Portail de référence au Mali depuis 2002. Actualité et infos maliennes en continu: Sports, Faits Divers, Politique, Rad
io FM
www.maliweb.net
January 15, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Burhan's visit to Mali was noteworthy, particularly as there are indications of an increased presence of RSF-linked businesspeople active in the Sahel: www.maliweb.net/economie/coo... The Sahel is increasingly a part of much broader regional and international geopolitics beyond just China and Wagner
A thread on Farmer-Herder research in Guinea, but read the full report here: elva.org/wp-content/u...
January 14, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A thread on Farmer-Herder research in Guinea, but read the full report here: elva.org/wp-content/u...
I am pleased to share my latest research for USAID West Africa's Strengthening Regional Peace and Stability (SRPS) program, that explores Guinea’s farmer-herder dynamics and the innovative solutions addressing conflict, climate impacts, governance, and security in the Kankan & N’Zérékoré regions. 🧵
January 14, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I am pleased to share my latest research for USAID West Africa's Strengthening Regional Peace and Stability (SRPS) program, that explores Guinea’s farmer-herder dynamics and the innovative solutions addressing conflict, climate impacts, governance, and security in the Kankan & N’Zérékoré regions. 🧵
Meanwhile Trumps Africa team is being set up today: Peter Pham, previously Sahel envoy during Trumps first term, to head State Dept Africa Bureau and Joe Folz from HFAC to lead the White House Africa role.
January 13, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Meanwhile Trumps Africa team is being set up today: Peter Pham, previously Sahel envoy during Trumps first term, to head State Dept Africa Bureau and Joe Folz from HFAC to lead the White House Africa role.