Sahel

Niger's military ruler Abdourahamane Tchiani, who seized power in the 2023 coup, has cut ties with Western partners including the United States and France and brought in Russian forces to provide his personal security and support combat operations. The shift marks another step in the Sahel's drift away from traditional Western partners toward Moscow, and is drawing amused and critical reactions online.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres met with Algeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs at UN headquarters, according to UN media. No details of the discussion have been released, but such meetings typically cover regional issues including the Sahel, the Western Sahara file and broader cooperation between Algeria and the United Nations. The talks come as Algeria remains an active voice in UN diplomacy and Arab League affairs.

United Nations Secretary-General met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mali at UN headquarters. The meeting was announced through official UN media channels, though no details of the agenda or outcomes have been released. Contacts between UN leadership and Mali's top diplomat typically cover issues such as peacekeeping, security in the Sahel and the country's political transition.