Africa · Western
Key Facts
—Direct accusations. On 21 April 2026, Mali and Niger foreign ministers publicly told a Senegal forum that neighbouring countries harbour and finance terrorist groups.
—Institutional fracture. The three AES states formally withdrew from ECOWAS on 29 January 2025 and launched a 5,000-strong joint force outside the bloc’s structures.
—Illicit gold flows. Jihadist-linked illegal gold extraction is estimated at over US$30 billion annually, with major destinations including the UAE, Turkey and Switzerland.
