CW Column: The Conflicts in Africa

Photo Source: Reuters
   NIAS Course on Global Politics
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
For any further information or to subscribe to GP alerts send an email to subachandran@nias.res.in

CWA # 1844
CW Column: The Conflicts in Africa
The AU's response to Trump's military threat and JNIM fuel blockade in Mali

  Anu Maria Joseph
14 November 2025

What happened this week?
Nigeria: The AU’s response to Trump’s military threat
On 12 November, the African Union responded to US President Trump’s military threat to Nigeria over his claims of a Christian genocide. African Union Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf rejected Trump’s claims and stated: "What's going on in the northern part of Nigeria has nothing to do with the kind of atrocities we see in Sudan or in some part of eastern DRC.” He added: "Think twice before... making such statements. The first victims of Boko Haram are Muslims, not Christians."

Mali: JNIM fuel blockade
This week, the fuel blockade by the al-Qaeda linked jihadist group, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), crossed two months. The US has urged its citizens not to travel to the country, and France has advised its citizens to leave.

What are the issues?
Nigeria
First, Trump’s accusations, threats, and discrepancies. Trump threatened military intervention in Nigeria over the number of Christians being killed by insurgents. Beyond Islamist insurgency, Nigeria’s security issues also involve banditry and farmer-herder clashes, which are not ideologically or religiously driven. Regardless, many research groups collectively describe them as “jihadists.” The data by ACLED indicates discrepancies in Trump’s claims. It says out of 21,000 civilians killed since 2020, 317 were Christians and highlights that Muslims and Christians have been equally targeted. 

Second, Africa’s collective response. Trump’s threat questions the authority under which he plans to carry out a military intervention into a sovereign democratic country. To make such a move, Trump needs consent from the respective country, a UN mandate, or domestic legislation to intervene. Meanwhile, Nigeria welcomed US assistance in fighting insurgency, but demanded respect for its sovereignty.  The AU chief’s response to Trump’s claims and threats implies Africa’s collective response that such a move is unwelcome.  

Mali
Third, in Mali, JNIM’s fuel blockade tactic and the objective. The JNIM launched a blockade of fuel supplies from neighbouring countries in September when the military government in Mali banned fuel sales in rural areas, an attempt to squeeze jihadists in their hideouts. Many fuel tankers and trucks from the Ivory Coast have been attacked and set on fire. Mali, a landlocked country in the Sahel, depends on neighbouring Senegal and the Ivory Coast for its fuel needs. Economic squeezing has been a major tactic group's financing since its formation. However, it was limited to illicit artisanal gold mining, illegal taxing, kidnapping, livestock theft and money laundering into the local financial system. The fuel blockade as a tactic is used to incite an economic crisis to pressure the military government and to demonstrate its capacity to shape the economic activities in the country.

Fourth, the military government's stance. The fuel blockade has pushed the government towards a defensive position. The military has been attempting to escort fuel trucks from the border to the capital and targeting JNIM hideouts with airstrikes. However, many attempts have failed amidst attacks by the militants. The government has also signed an emergency fuel supply agreement with Russia to secure refined petroleum and technical assistance for transport security. 

Fifth, the economic impact. The blockade has left many parts of the country without electricity. It has increased commodity prices. Schools have been shut for weeks. The gas stations in the capital, Bamako, are filled with long queues. Emergency services, food and health care sectors, public transport, businesses and military requirements have been affected by the blockade. 

What does it mean?
Nigeria
The AU’s response points out dissatisfaction with Trump’s claims and represents a collective demand from Africa to provide evidence-based accusations. The stance also indicates that any military intervention by the US is unwelcome in Africa if not invited. 

Mali
The fuel blockade implies: first, JNIM’s capacity to disrupt the economic sectors in the country; second, it exposed the military government’s weak reach and capacity to quell the insurgency; third, it demonstrates the junta’s increasing reliance on Russia; fourth, increasing concerns of JNIM’s expansion, the extensive social and security impact and a major setback to public confidence on the military regime.

About the author
Anu Maria Joseph is a Project Associate at NIAS.

Print Bookmark

PREVIOUS COMMENTS

This Week in History
August 2025 | CWA # 1801

R Preetha

28 August 1963
TWTW note
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Trump tariffs:
This Week in History
August 2025 | CWA # 1778

Lekshmi MK

28 July 1914
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1189

Hoimi Mukherjee | Hoimi Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in Bankura Zilla Saradamani Mahila Mahavidyapith.

Chile in 2023: Crises of Constitutionality
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1187

Aprajita Kashyap | Aprajita Kashyap is a faculty of Latin American Studies, School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.

Haiti in 2023: The Humanitarian Crisis
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1185

Binod Khanal | Binod Khanal is a Doctoral candidate at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.

The Baltic: Energy, Russia, NATO and China
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1183

Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Research Associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangaluru.

Germany in 2023: Defence, Economy and Energy Triangle
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1178

​​​​​​​Ashok Alex Luke | Ashok Alex Luke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at CMS College, Kottayam.

China and South Asia in 2023: Advantage Beijing?
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1177

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri | Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.

China and East Asia
The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan