Is Mali losing control to insurgents? JNIM, Russian forces and the fight for the Sahel

The Globalist episode explores the deepening crisis in Mali and the broader Sahel region, where Islamist insurgency led by JNIM has intensified despite the military junta's alignment with Russia. Tara O'Connor, Africa Risk Consulting's Managing Director, details recent coordinated attacks that have pushed rebel forces to the outskirts of Bamako and resulted in the fall of Kidal, forcing Russian-African Corps troops to retreat. The episode examines the fragile balance of power between the junta, jihadist groups, and Russian backers, highlighting how the expulsion of Western forces has not brought stability but instead greater fragmentation. Regional institutions like ECOWAS and the African Union remain sidelined due to the military governments' suspension, leaving diplomacy in disarray. The discussion also touches on broader geopolitical shifts, including Gulf tensions following Iran's war, the UAE's exit from OPEC, and ongoing conflicts in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the episode features lighter segments on cultural topics, including pet burials in Switzerland, a controversial lobster release in Italy, and a nostalgic look at vintage Italian synthesizers at Milan's Salone del Mobile. The programme concludes with a reflection on NASA's Voyager 1 probe, now in interstellar space, carrying a golden record of Earth's sounds and music as humanity's message to the cosmos.