Beverly Ochieng

Beverly Ochieng, a Senior analyst at Control Risks specializing in Sahel security, discusses the dire situation in Mali amid a blockade by al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM fighters. She highlights the blockade's severe impact on fuel supplies and daily life, leading to school closures and economic paralysis. Beverly examines the military government's challenges in addressing public fears, mixed blame for the crisis, and the nuanced responses from regional organizations. She also details JNIM's operations, funding methods, and ambitions beyond Mali, emphasizing the need for global attention on the escalating crisis.

Beverly Ochieng, a senior security analyst at Control Risks and a non-resident expert at CSIS, explores the complex competition for influence in Africa among global powers. She discusses the impact of the second Trump administration’s policies on U.S.–Africa relations, highlighting a shift toward 'trade not aid.' The conversation dives into China's expanding digital influence, Russia's use of paramilitary forces, and the strategic roles of Turkey and the UAE. Ochieng also emphasizes the increasing agency of African regional organizations in shaping their own futures.

The podcast discusses the chaos in Haiti as armed gangs threaten the country, South Korea's declining birth rate crisis, the hidden world of US freight train travelers, political turmoil in Senegal, and the preservation of Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.