Nina Wilen

US Slaps Sanctions On Rwanda Military Over DR Congo 'Violation' The United States said Monday that it was imposing sanctions on Rwanda's military, taking action against a longtime partner it accused of violating a peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of Cong...

"The #US said Monday that it was imposing #sanctions on #Rwanda 's #military, taking action against a longtime partner it accused of violating a peace agreement in the Democratic Republic of #Congo"

#M23 #Conflict #Minerals

www.barrons.com/news/us-slap...

#China perceived as the external actor in #Africa with most positive influence

#Russia behind both the #US & the #EU
(#Mali exception)

#EU lagging behind the #US but USAID cut may not be felt at the poll moment

#Turkey & Gulf states notably absent

www.afrobarometer.org/articles/la-...

What Will the U.S. Critical Minerals Summit Mean for Africa? How African nations fit into the Trump administration’s plans to combat China.

"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...

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.

"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...

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.

"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...

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 ...

“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...

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

"#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...

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

“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...

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...

We also suggest three #policy recommendations for increasing gender equality in #Niger and beyond in the #Sahel and #Africa:

🔻 Finance affordable #childcare
🔻 Award more international stipends & opportunities
🔻 Educate boys & #men

🌐 academic article in #gender in management (PM for copy)

📣 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

📄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

…from the laureate whose country he just illegally invaded and kidnapped its president

You can’t make this up.

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

"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...

The Price of American Authoritarianism What can reverse democratic decline?

"#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 Illiberal International Authoritarian cooperation is reshaping the global order.

"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...

"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...

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."

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...

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.

"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-...

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...

📕https://global.oup.com/academic/product/securitizing-the-sahel-9780198980674?cc=be&lang=en&
#Security in the #Sahel

✨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

Trump, Russia, and the coming collapse of the information space Another uplifting Rant! Happy Friday!

“ #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

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...

Trump, the Bus Driver Heading straight toward a cliff

“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-...

❓ 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

📄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

... #Europe also needs to reflect on these scenarios & decide whether it is willing to:

➡️ Finance #Ukraine's DDR process for a stable #peace

➡️ Regulate the use of Ukrainian PMCs & military contractors in Europe - who will be in high demand - #drone know-how & capacity to fight #Russia fin

2️⃣ The risk that the massive number of #soldiers will lead to the creation & recruitment of new #mercenary groups & #PMCs

- These risk to be deployed to #Africa where a new #coup wave has put in place #military regimes keen on staying in power..

Yet... 2)

#Wagner