Topic: Mali

The military leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso signed a mutual defense pact to assist one another against terrorism and external intervention. The discussion contextualizes these coups within the history of the 1884 Berlin Conference and the ongoing struggle for Africa's mineral resources.

Media reports from Al Jazeera and Democracy Now highlight the "Francophone Spring," noting that Gabon marks the tenth coup or attempted takeover in West and Central Africa in three years. The narrative focuses on the failure of the Bongo family to use oil wealth to alleviate poverty, with specific mention of French oil giant Total Energies. The military's dissolution of state institutions in Gabon is met with public cheers in the capital, Libreville.

A military coup in Niger has sparked large-scale protests against French military presence and Western influence in the Sahel region. Protesters in Niamey have displayed Russian flags and expressed support for the junta, citing the failure of Western nations to stop the regional jihadist insurgency.

Niger's new military junta has reportedly requested assistance from the Russian Wagner Group as the ECOWAS regional bloc threatens military intervention to restore the ousted president. Mali and Burkina Faso have declared that any attack on Niger would be considered a declaration of war against them, signaling a major shift toward Russian influence in West Africa.

Millions of U.S. military emails were accidentally sent to the African nation of Mali due to a persistent typo. Senders frequently used the ".ml" country suffix for Mali instead of the intended ".mil" U.S. military domain. Some of the misdirected communications reportedly contained sensitive information, including medical records and travel itineraries of senior officials.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen began a 10-day trip to Africa to extend US influence and counter Russian "barbaric aggression" that has exacerbated food insecurity. While Yellen pledged $55 billion in aid, countries like Mali continue to turn to the Kremlin for military support, recently receiving a shipment of Russian warplanes. The trip occurs as the US faces a critical debt limit crisis at home, requiring "drastic measures" from the Treasury.

Germany decided to withdraw its 1,000 troops from the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali by May 2024. The decision follows increasing friction with Mali's ruling government and the arrival of Russian forces in the region. Berlin previously hesitated to leave due to concerns that a vacuum would allow Russia to gain a strategic foothold in West Africa.

A military junta in Mali has overthrown President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, leading to an intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While the junta claims the president resigned willingly, ECOWAS leaders are demanding a return to civilian rule. The coup appears to have significant public support in the capital city of Bamako despite international condemnation.

The Pentagon is reportedly considering a significant withdrawal of U.S. troops from West Africa, including a drone base in Niger. The move is part of Defense Secretary Mark Esper's strategy to shift focus away from post-9/11 counter-terrorism operations toward other global priorities.

Facebook admitted to storing hundreds of millions of user passwords in plain text, accessible to employees. In a separate incident, a Lithuanian man pled guilty to stealing $122 million from Facebook and Google by sending random, unverified invoices that the companies simply paid. Additionally, a major ethnic attack in Mali that left 130 dead is noted for receiving minimal Western media coverage compared to other events.

Efforts to secure a travel waiver involved contacts with the Royal Dutch Marines in Mali and Iraq, as well as the Department of Homeland Security at the US embassy in the Netherlands. Officials ultimately refused to sign off on an exception to avoid violating European Union law regarding passport expiration and 90-day tourist visas.

Following the accidental death of two Dutch soldiers in Mali, the hosts discuss the military tactic of "salting" ammunition supplies with spiked rounds that explode when fired. They also touch on the use of infrared-reflective tape to prevent friendly fire incidents during combat operations.

The Associated Press discovered a letter in Mali revealing that Al-Qaeda functions as a highly structured bureaucracy that requires commanders to file monthly expense reports. The letter criticizes commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar for failing to submit reports, missing meetings in Timbuktu, and "discounting" ransoms for Canadian diplomats. The hosts mock the "corporate" nature of the terrorist organization and its "Chief Revenue Officer" style of management.

Tensions at the Senegal-Mali border have increased as the Senegalese government cracks down on religious leaders suspected of links to Boko Haram. Local Muslims have criticized the state's emphasis on secularism, arguing that they only recognize the "rule of God." This conflict highlights the difficulty of implementing Western-style democratic values in the region.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open episode 776 of the No Agenda Show from FEMA Region 6 and Silicon Valley. They discuss the cyclical nature of news during the Thanksgiving holiday and reference a previous prediction regarding instability in Mali. The hosts introduce a content trigger warning before transitioning into reports of a deadly hotel attack in Bamako.

French and Libyan authorities investigate the involvement of Mokhtar Belmokhtar in the Radisson Blu hotel attack in Mali. Despite reports of his death in a previous US air strike, his group Al-Murabitun claimed responsibility alongside Al-Qaeda. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Rudolf Atala of the Atlantic Council provides analysis on the group's efforts to link with Al-Qaeda central and distance itself from regional offshoots.

Following a meeting between Presidents Obama and Hollande, the hosts discuss the expansion of U.S. drone operations in Africa, specifically a base in Niger. They highlight past government denials of the base's existence and link military intervention in Mali and Nigeria to French and British corporate interests, including oil companies like Total and BP.

France and the United States are increasing military cooperation across Africa, specifically in Mali, Niger, and the Central African Republic. The U.S. provides intelligence via drone bases in Niger and heavy transport support with C-17 aircraft, while France maintains a significant ground presence. The American base in Djibouti serves as a massive hub for long-range missions into Somalia and South Sudan to combat groups like Al-Shabaab.

Jihadist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar, previously reported dead, has surfaced in a statement announcing a merger between his followers and the MUJAO group in West Africa. The new alliance, known as the Al-Murabitun, vows to support Islamists in Egypt and confront "Zionist campaigns" across North Africa. The report originated from the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist communications.

French President Francois Hollande conducted a "victory tour" in Timbuktu, Mali, following an assault against militants. Reports indicate that French paratroopers took the city without firing a single shot, as the militants had already fled. The hosts characterize the cheering crowds and the "iconic community" narrative as staged media events.