West Africa's Islamist insurgency: Fight at a critical stage

The multinational effort to stave off an encroaching takeover by extremists in the part of Africa known as the Sahel is facing severe challenges.

Mali, where around 400 British troops are currently deployed, has just experienced its second coup in nine months, widely condemned by regional leaders.

President Emmanuel Macron has threatened to pull out all 5,100 French troops there if the coup leaders carry out their suggestion of making a deal with the same Islamist insurgents the troops are fighting.

Further north, Spain has pulled out of US-led multinational war games dubbed African Lion over a dispute with Morocco.

This matters for West Africa and the region but it could also have a knock-on effect for other parts of the world.

This part of Africa, the Sahel, is the transit route for huge numbers of migrants making their way northward to Europe. It is also a major transit route for illegal drugs, weapons and jihadists.