How Jihadist Movements Took Root in the Sahel—and Why the U.S. Should Care

On today’s episode, Andy sits down with former CIA analyst Michael Shurkin to explore the agency’s post-9/11 focus on Africa and the emergence of jihadist movements in the Sahel. They unpack the rise of Al-Qaeda–linked groups in Mali, the regional dynamics that fueled instability, and how external actors like France and Russia shaped the conflict. The conversation highlights the day-to-day realities of intelligence work, the strategic blind spots of U.S. foreign policy, and why what’s happening in Africa could have consequences far beyond the continent.

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