Overview

• A jihadist massacre by JNIM in Burkina Faso this week has left dozens dead, highlighting escalating violence across the Sahel region.
• The EU's Special Representative João Cravinho plans to unveil a new strategy by June or July, focusing on rule of law, policing, and judicial capacity instead of military interventions.
• Diplomatic ties remain strained after Algeria shot down a Malian drone earlier this year, leading Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to withdraw ambassadors from Algeria.
• Russian mercenaries, now operating as Afrika Korps, have faced major defeats in Mali, further destabilizing the region and undermining their influence.
• Mass migration from the Sahel continues to surge, with tens of thousands risking dangerous sea crossings to Europe, intensifying political pressures on EU nations.