Music was once Mali’s best-known cultural export. Why are its musicians still not performing months after the defeat of the …
Al-Qaeda
France’s Latest Terrorist Suspect: A French Convert Near Retirement Age
French soldiers in Mali arrest a 58-year-old Frenchman who is suspected of being a member of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb—and who may prove to be a key source of intelligence on the group
No Exit: Syria’s War Through the Eyes of a Fighter on Both Sides
When Siraj heard the news earlier this month that al-Qaeda had embraced Jabhat al-Nusra, a jihadist group recognized in Syria for its discipline and fighting prowess, but deemed a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department, he …
Jihadi Strike in Timbuktu Reflects Altered Terrorism Threat in Mali
As France prepares its military departure from Mali, a March 31 strike by militants in Timbuktu indicates how jihadi forces aren’t giving up — just reverting to previous practice
The Terror of Toulouse: How Much Did the French Know About a Spree Shooter?
A year after Toulouse jihadi Mohammed Merah began a killing campaign that claimed seven lives, France marks the death of his first victim amid new indications that domestic intelligence services missed clear signs of the threat he posed
French Officials Warn ‘Success’ in Mali Won’t End Islamist Threat
Despite gains against Islamist militias in Mali, France believes victory in the Sahel will require political reform across Africa to eliminate the threat for good
The War in Mali: Does France Have an Exit Strategy?
French officials say advances against Islamist militias in Mali may permit France to begin gradual troop withdrawal in March, as soldiers from African nations assume the lead role in battling the jihadi threat
French Family’s Cameroon Kidnapping Stokes Fears of a Pan-African Islamist War
The Feb. 19 kidnapping of a French family in Cameroon by suspected Islamist radicals raises fears of growing cross-boarder operations by African jihadi groups and the use of abduction as a tactic to counter France’s Mali intervention
France’s Mali Mission: Has al-Qaeda Already Been Defeated?
Despite the French army’s rapid progress in pushing al-Qaeda-linked extremists to the nether regions of Mali, officials in Paris say full elimination of jihadi militias in the Sahel is more than unlikely
France’s Next Move: With Mali’s Islamists on the Run, Time to Talk to the Tuaregs
With France preparing to hand its anti-Islamist intervention in Mali to forces from neighboring states, Paris now encourages Malian leaders to negotiate with Tuareg rebels who teamed up with Islamists to dominate the north.
Mali’s War: After Surging Into the Islamist-Held North, Will France Retreat?
Franco-Malian offensive frees Timbuktu as the last major Mali town held by jihadi militias, but French moves handing over campaign against al-Qaeda allies in Mali to African forces raise doubts about future success.
Algeria’s Hostage Crisis: Did the Jihadists Have Inside Help?
As death toll in Algerian hostage attack grows, security officials examine Europe’s exposure to terror by al Qaeda-lined groups vowing revenge against France and the West for military intervention in Mali’s jihad.
Algeria’s Hostage Crisis: What Was Behind a Shadowy Militant Leader’s Plot?
As the Algerian hostage drama neared day four confusion remained high, information tight, and speculation about multiple motives behind the terror strike emerge
