Saudi Arabia and Iran Compete in the Sahel

by Javad Heiran-Nia and Somayeh Khomarbaghi  Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirate are supporting the Sahel Joint Military Force, the latest indication of a competition for influence with Iran in West Africa. The force falls under the rubric of… Continue Reading

Saudi Strong Arms Muslim Nations to Take Sides in Gulf Crisis

by James M. Dorsey Saudi Arabia, in a first move to pressure mostly Muslim states to join its campaign against Qatar, has persuaded six sub-Saharan African nations with threats of reduced financial aid and restricted quotas for the haj, the… Continue Reading

America’s Empire of African Bases

by Nick Turse In the shadows of what was once called the “dark continent,” a scramble has come and gone. If you heard nothing about it, that was by design. But look hard enough and — north to south, east… Continue Reading