Mali
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Album review: "The Paris Session" by The Touré-Raichel Collective
Expanding each other's musical horizons
An Israeli keyboard player/composer, a Malian guitarist and a chance meeting in an airport that resulted in an amazing meeting of musical worlds. Richard Marcus on The Touré-Raichel Collective's second album, "The Paris Session"
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Open Letter to Europe
"Tunisia Needs Help!"
In an open letter to José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, the well-known Tunisian journalist Soufiane Chourabi appeals to the EU to put pressure on Tunisia’s government because it tolerates the attacks by fundamentalist Islamic groups on Tunisians’ personal freedoms
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Interview with Mali Expert Marie Rodet
''The Whole Region Is Potentially Explosive''
According to West Africa expert Marie Rodet, although the conflict in Mali has not yet been fully resolved, the situation there has improved, and there are other countries in the region that are a greater cause for concern. Jonas Berninger spoke to her about the reasons for the French intervention and Mali's future
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Interview with Bakary Sambe
''In the Arab World, We Africans are Viewed as Inferior Muslims''
The French military intervention in Mali has triggered controversial reactions among Muslim intellectuals in West Africa. While there is almost universal rejection of jihadism, opinion about France's political motives is divided. Charlotte Wiedemann spoke to the Senegalese political scientist Bakary Sambe
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Interview with Matenia Sirseloudi
What Drives Young People to Jihad?
What is behind the Islamicisation and radicalisation of young people in Europe? To what extent do European foreign policies and military interventions abroad play a role in this? Albrecht Metzger spoke to sociologist Dr Matenia Sirseloudi about politically motivated violence and radicalisation processes
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Consequences of the Military Intervention in Mali
A Tinderbox Situation
Algeria and Morocco granted France permission to use their airspace in its campaign against militant Islamists in Mali. But Arab experts fear that the Mali intervention could push many young Muslims into the arms of the Jihadists. By Siham Ouchtou
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Interview with Ahmed Rashid on Mali
''Worse than Afghanistan''
Pakistani writer and Taliban expert Ahmed Rashid reports on the failures of the international community in Mali and how Islamist Al-Qaida affiliates have been able to establish themselves there. He spoke to Silke Mertins
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Musicians in Mali
Fighting back against Censorship
Islamic militants in northern Mali have banned most types of music and forced local musicians to flee for their lives. In exile in Bamako, they are keeping their music alive. Tamasin Ford reports
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Ansar Dine's religious leader Chérif Ousmane Haidara
''This is not Sharia, but banditry''
Ansar Dine is the name of a popular Sufi movement in Mali that has two million members. Charlotte Wiedemann spoke with its religious leader, Chérif Ousmane Haidara, about a stolen name, his anger with the Islamists and on a new alliance against Wahhabism
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Libya's Unchecked Weapons Trade
''Gaddafi's Gangster Mentality Lives On''
They smuggle weapons, drugs and refugees: Criminal networks are controlling eastern Libya. The government has pledged to offer the impoverished region economic alternatives. By Markus Symank in Benghazi
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Interview with Nader Hashemi
On the Compatibility of Islam and Democracy
In this interview with Lewis Gropp, Nader Hashemi, a leading scholar on Islam and secularism, says that the two are far from being incompatible – and that the West has to accept its share of responsibility for the revival of anti-democratic forces in the Islamic world
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Omar ''Bombino'' Moctar
Rebel Music from the Sahara
After years of struggle, many of the Tuareq rebels have switched to making music in order to promote their people's cultural identity. One of the most remarkable "former rebel musicians" is Omar "Bombino" Moctar. Richard Marcus introduces the man and his music