Conflict

The U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State (IS) militants says its air strikes have cut oil production by the group in Syria and Iraq by around 30 percent.

The United States has long depended on a worldwide network of military bases to project power, reassure allies, contain enemies, and fight terrorism. Indeed, as the Islamic State has metastasized, the Pentagon is considering expanding the U.S. basing network in the developing world, particularly in Africa. Renanah Miles and Brian Blankenship of Columbia University describe how China and other countries are joining this quest for bases. They argue the resulting competition is creating a market, and a dysfunctional one, for access. To woo locals, the United States uses commercial ties – often with unforeseen results.

The Africa Union has pledged not to allow a "genocide" to take place in Burundi, while a UN human rights assembly has approved a resolution calling for the immediate deployment of experts there to investigate abuses and rein in violence.

In facilitating the process of securitization, African leaders avoid the real challenge of addressing the roots of human insecurity within their countries and regions.