Understanding the Mali Hotel Attack

Andrew Lebovich comes on the show to discuss the recent attack in Bamako, the groups involved, the security situation in Mali, and much more. Some of the topics we covered include:

• Background on al-Mourabitoun and Moktar Belmoktar
• Why the attacks in Bamako weren’t surprising
• The concept of “extraversion” and how it relates to the targeting of the Radisson in Bamako
• Local vs. global focus of the attack
• France’s 2013 intervention in Mali and it’s relevance to the current situation
• Potential for improving the security situation and the need to reform the military and security services

Links:

• Analysis: Mali hotel siege was horrifically predictable – Al Jazeera English
• Can we compare the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Bamako? – The Washington Post
• Of Mergers, MUJAO, and Mokhtar Belmokhtar | al-Wasat
• Andrew Lebovich (@tweetsintheME) on Twitter
• Karl Morand (@KarlMorand) on Twitter

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