A Russian scale-back would create new a power vacuum in a region that’s already seen one major shift from French-backed military interventions to countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger favouring Russia, Turkey and China in the past two years

Without a reliable air bridge, Russia’s ability to project power in Africa diminishes, forcing of to seek other options. It might be pushed to scale back in some countries, particularly Mali, Burkina Faso or CAR where its military operations rely on access its Syrian bases

How the EU systematically underestimates the Sahelian regimes' ability and willingness to make up stories to undermine the EU and any Western org (notably INGOs) operating in the region is killing me

That guy kneeling hopefully still has a family that doesn’t want be reminded who he died

However the decision was followed by a second ruling from the top court setting the date for the polls to March 31. Some confusion still remains over whether the court will consider the 18 days from now until the vote too short and insist on the later date