West Africa & Sahel

- Tuareg rebels withdraw from Kidal in northern Mali after six months of control, citing sustained air strikes by Malian troops and Russian allies; the FLA claims disproportionate airstrikes led to their withdrawal. - Western nations pressure African states to skip the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. - Africa plans to launch its own credit rating agency to counter unfair assessments that increase borrowing costs for African nations. - Guinea opposition leader Aliou Bah released after nearly two years in prison following a presidential pardon amid accusations of tightened political freedoms.

Recent headlines

• Tuareg rebels withdraw from strategic town of Kidal in northern Mali — al_jazeera
• Malian army and Russian fighters retake key city of Kidal, abandoned by rebels — africa_news
• Mali reclaims rebel stronghold with Russian support — rt_ru
• UNHCR calls for urgent investment as displacement crisis deepens across Central Sahel - UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency — gnews_US_en_displaced_refugees_UNHCR_crisis
• Algeria-UAE tensions extend to competition for influence in the Sahel — middle_east_monitor