Mary Fitzgerald, Monocle's North Africa correspondent, sheds light on the recent departures of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS, analyzing the quest for sovereignty and the shift towards alliances with Russia. Meanwhile, Zoe Grunabald, Westminster editor, discusses political developments including RFK Jr.'s hearings and Friedrich Merz's alliance with the AFD. The conversation reveals how these geopolitical shifts impact regional stability, as well as broader global political trends and their implications for both European and American dynamics.