African Jihadist

20-year-old fled from Mali to Spain after jihadist militants attacked his village. -His mother and father were dead, his brother and sister missing. His ordeal is a sign of how groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State are gaining ground in the Sahel region. Following coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, juntas there have turned their backs on traditional Western allies and embraced Russia. Those coups were driven in part by frustration at the failure of authorities to tackle militant violence. But despite promises to improve security, the new military regimes and mercenaries from Russia's Wagner group continue to lose ground. Watch here for more details.

Mix of Islamist insurgency and energy windfall proves toxic to Mozambique

The fall of Palma last week is a warning that while the so-called caliphate has fallen in Iraq and Syria, the ideas that drove it have metastasized and grown teeth.

Al-Qaeda affiliated grp takes responsibility for Mali siege

Al-Mourabitoun, a group based in northern Mali and made up mostly of Tuaregs and Arabs, posted a message on Twitter saying it was behind the attack on the Radisson Blu hotel, where hostages are still being held.