Speaking with the BBC, Ahmed, a shopkeeper who has since fled Mali, recounted his brutal experience with Wagner forces in Nampala in August 2024. Accused of harboring connections with jihadists, Ahmed was detained, tortured through waterboarding and beatings, and repeatedly interrogated about his boss’s whereabouts. After enduring the torture, Ahmed was placed in a toilet block with other locals and subsequently taken back for another round of interrogation where he was threatened with beheading. Ultimately, he was left in a kitchen with two other men who had also been detained.
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Al Qaeda Is on the Brink of Taking Over a Country: U.S. has warned American citizens to leave Mali immediately – the situation is undeniably dire. The U.S. State Department’s warning to its citizens to get out of Mali speaks volumes. It’s not a casual advisory; it’s a flashing red light, a sign that the ground is shifting underfoot, and the threat is real and immediate. This isn’t some distant, abstract possibility; this is about to be reality.
Al Qaeda taking over Mali brings up a lot of questions. We’re talking about a country potentially succumbing to a group known for its extremist ideology and violent tactics.… Continue reading
A disaster: Russia’s Africa Corps suffers its first defeat in Mali. That’s the headline, and it certainly grabs your attention. But before we get carried away, let’s unpack it a little. The initial response, if you’re like me, might be a mix of “Oh, interesting” and a shrug. While the media might frame this as a major blow, the reality, as always, is more nuanced. Russia, after all, has been losing soldiers in Africa for a while now, even if the branding has changed. They were “Wagner” until recently, and now they are “Africa Corps.” So, technically, yes, this is their first defeat under the new name, but it’s not like the casualties are a completely new phenomenon.… Continue reading
The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary force, has declared its withdrawal from Mali after more than three years of operations against Islamist militants. This departure, however, does not signal a complete Russian military exit; the state-controlled Africa Corps will maintain a presence in the country. While Wagner claims mission accomplishment, the transition appears linked to internal disputes and recent battlefield losses suffered against JNIM, an al-Qaeda linked group. The shift may also reflect a strategic repositioning by Russia, with the Africa Corps emphasizing training and logistical support over direct combat.
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Russia’s Wagner mercenary group announced its departure from Mali, declaring their mission accomplished. This seemingly straightforward statement, however, is shrouded in a cloud of ambiguity and conflicting interpretations. While the group proclaims success, numerous accounts suggest a different narrative altogether.
The claim of a successful mission raises immediate questions. What, precisely, constituted this mission’s objectives and how were they achieved? The lack of transparency surrounding Wagner’s activities in Mali makes evaluating this claim incredibly difficult. Were the stated goals primarily focused on providing military training and support to the Malian government, or did they involve more extensive combat operations? Did they achieve their aims, or were they pushed out due to mounting pressure and setbacks?… Continue reading
A federal jury ruled against Sarah Palin in her defamation retrial against the New York Times, upholding the newspaper’s non-liability for a 2017 editorial inaccurately linking Palin to a mass shooting. This verdict, following a 2022 ruling overturned on appeal, reinforces the “actual malice” standard, requiring proof of knowing falsehood or reckless disregard for the truth. The case garnered significant attention due to the high-profile individuals involved and its implications for free speech in the current political climate. Despite the loss, Palin expressed contentment with her personal life and remained undecided on an appeal.
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The Nevada Supreme Court rejected Steve Wynn’s appeal to overturn a lower court ruling against him in a defamation case stemming from a 2021 article detailing allegations of sexual misconduct. The court found Wynn failed to demonstrate actual malice in the reporting of the manicurist’s account of forced sexual contact. Wynn’s subsequent Supreme Court petition argues that the current media landscape, characterized by readily accessible publishing and a prevalence of potentially inaccurate reporting, renders the established defamation standard obsolete. This petition seeks to overturn the established precedent in light of these changed circumstances.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood