Russian-Chinese military cooperation helps strengthen strategic relations – Putin

©Sergei Karpukhin/TASS

Russian-Chinese military cooperation helps strengthen strategic and trust-based relations between the two countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday at a meeting with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu.

He hailed successful and comprehensive cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in the defense sphere. "I think that it is another major area, which strengthens the trust-based, strategic character of our relations, relations between Russia and China," Putin said.

He hailed Russian-Chinese military cooperation, noting that Russia’s and China’s defense ministries exchange useful information and hold joint drills.

The Russian president recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia in March, when cooperation between the defense ministries was among the topics.

©Sputnik / Pavel Bednyakov / Go to the mediabank

He noted that the Chinese defense minister "has quite rich working program" in Russia. "We are glad to see you. I am sure that your visit will be held at the highest possible level. Welcome to Russia!" Putin said.

The meeting in the Kremlin was also attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu.

The Russian defense ministry said on April 14 that Li Shangfu will pay his first foreign visit as defense minister to Russia on April 16-18. He plans to have talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Shoigu, to discuss "the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation in the defense sphere, as well as current issues of global and regional security.".

Putin asks visiting Chinese defense minister to convey his best wishes to President Xi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked visiting Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu to convey his best wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"I am very glad to see you," Putin said welcoming the Chinese minister in the Kremlin.

"Please convey my best wishes to [Chinese] President Xi Jinping," he added.

The Russian leader recalled that his Chinese counterpart had visited Russia not long ago. "You have arrived in Russia after the visit to our country by our big friend, my friend - Chinese President Xi Jinping. I would like to stress once again that the visit was very productive," Putin said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow on March 20-22. On the first day of Xi’s visit, the two leaders spoke one-on-one for 4.5 hours and held talks in various formats for six hours on the following day. The visit yielded two joint statements of the presidents.

A month prior, on February 22, Putin received Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and member of the CCP Politburo Wang Yi.

Putin stressed that the Russian and Chinese defense ministries share information regularly.

"As for defense departments, we are working just as actively, regularly exchanging useful information, cooperating in the military-technical field, conducting joint exercises, moreover, at different theaters, including in the Far East region, in Europe, and at sea, and on the land and in the air," Putin said during the meeting, which was attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu too.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu attended the meeting too. - Sputnik International, 1920, 16.04.2023

The president expressed confidence that defense is yet another important area that strengthens the strategic nature of relations between the two countries.

"We are glad to see you. I know that you have a busy work schedule. I am sure that your visit will be held at the highest level. Welcome to Russia," the president told Defense Minister Li.

He further mentioned the recent visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Russia, praising it as very productive.

"You arrived in Russia after a visit to our country by our great friend, my friend, the president of the People's Republic of China, Comrade Xi Jinping. I would like to emphasize once again that the visit was very productive," Putin told Li, asking the minister to convey his best wishes to Chairman Xi.

For his part, the Chinese defense minister told the Russian president that he had chosen Russia as the destination of his first foreign trip in order to show how significant the bilateral relations were.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu greet each other during a meeting in Moscow on April 16, 2023.
©Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Go to the mediabank

Li then pointed out that the Sino-Russian cooperation contributes greatly to global security, as he emphasized that the relationship between the two nations is stronger than any alliances clinched during the Cold War.

"We have very strong relations. They surpass the military-political alliances of the Cold War era, they are built on the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation with a third party. They are very stable," the minister elaborated.

The Chinese minister added that the two sides would continue to work for the prosperity of the entire world.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder and work to improve the well-being of our peoples. Taking into account that the economic recovery is very slow... the world is very restless, peace, peaceful relations between countries are in great demand ... Cooperation (with Russia) is developing at all levels and we will continue such cooperation for the development and prosperity of the whole world," he said.

The Chinese defense minister's visit comes less than a month after President Xi's trip to Russia, where he held an informal meeting with Putin. Aside from that, the two presidents held talks in a broad format with the participation of delegations. The two leaders signed a joint statement on a plan to develop key areas of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation until 2030.

Former Indian MP and brother shot dead on live TV

Forensic officials examine the spot where Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were shot dead.(Reuters: Ritesh Shukla)

A former member of India’s Parliament convicted of kidnapping has been shot dead on live TV along with his brother while in police custody in the northern city of Prayagraj, raising questions about rule of law in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The gunmen, who appeared to have posed as journalists, fired multiple shots at Atiq Ahmed and former state legislator Ashraf Ahmed on Saturday as they were being taken in handcuffs to hospital by police for a medical checkup, authorities said.

Three suspects quickly surrendered to the police after the shooting with at least one of them chanting, “Jai Shri Ram,” or “Hail Lord Ram,” a slogan that has become a battle cry for Hindu nationalists in their campaign against Muslims.

The two victims were from India’s Muslim minority. Police did not say whether they were investigating a possible sectarian motive in the killings.

Police officer Ramit Sharma told The Associated Press news agency that the three assailants arrived on motorcycles and posed as journalists.

“They managed to reach close to Atiq and his brother on the pretext of recording a byte and fired at them from close range,” he said. “Both sustained bullet injuries on the head.”

“It all happened in seconds,” Sharma said.

Another police official, Prashant Kumar, told the Agence France-Presse news agency that the attackers are being questioned.

The police have identified the attackers as Lavlesh Tiwari, Arun Maurya and Sunny Singh. The trio hails from the state of Uttar Pradesh.

‘Failure of the police’

Atiq Ahmed last month had said in a petition to India’s top court that his life was under threat from the police in the state ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

His lawyer, Vijay Mishra, said the shooting was shocking because “it is a clear failure of the police in ensuring the safety” of his clients.

The shooting occurred days after Atiq’s son Asad Ahmed, 19, and an accomplice, who had both been accused of a recent murder, were killed by police in what was described as a shootout.

Atiq Ahmed, 60, was jailed in 2019 after he was convicted of kidnapping. He was a local lawmaker four times and was also elected to India’s Parliament in 2004. He reportedly faced more than 100 legal cases.

More than 180 people facing charges have been killed in Uttar Pradesh in recent years in so-called “police encounters”, which human rights groups said are often extrajudicial executions

In other news, the Uttar Pradesh Home Department has notified a three-member judicial commission to look into the killing of Atiq Ahmed and his brother. The committee will be headed by retired Justice Arvind Kumar Tripathi of Allahabad HC and will also comprise retired IPS officer Subesh Kumar Singh and retired District Judge Brijesh Kumar Soni.

Three people, accused of posing as pressmen and spraying bullets on the gangster turned politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother, have been sent to judicial custody for 14 days, District Government Counsel (DGC) criminal Gulam Chandra Agrahari said on Sunday.

He said that the court has decided April 29 as the date for further hearing.

"Today all the three accused were produced before the Remand Magistrate. The three accused have been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by the court. Now the date of April 29 has been fixed," Gulam Chandra Agrahari told ANI.

Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, who were shot dead yesterday amid police presence, have been buried in Prayagraj at the same graveyard where his son was laid to rest.

In 2019, UN experts raised alarms about alleged police killings in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state and home to 200 million people.

Hundreds of politicians belonging to all parties across India have criminal cases pending against them, and nearly half of the ministers in Uttar Pradesh are criminal suspects, according to the independent Association for Democratic Reforms monitoring group

Atiq murder: Sons of driver, farmer with little or no family ties; 2 of 3 accused have past cases against them

A photo of three men; (L-R) Arun Maurya, Sunny Purane and Lavlesh Tiwari, who opened fire at gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf while they were being taken for a medical checkup in Prayagraj. (PTI Photo)

The three youths, arrested for the murder of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, hail from families not so well-off and police said at least two of the assailants have a criminal track record.

The families of all three claimed that they had not been in touch for a long time. Police said they found that criminal cases had been registered in the past against two of the three arrested – 22-year-old Lavlesh Tiwari and 23-year-old Sunny Puraney. The background of the third – 18-year-old Arun Kumar Maurya – is being ascertained, police said. (

Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad, brother Ashraf buried in UP's Prayagraj

Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf were buried in their ancestral village in this Uttar Pradesh district on Sunday.

The bodies of Ahmad and Ashraf were taken to the Kasari Masari graveyard in ambulances. Ahmad's son Asad, an accused in the Umesh Pal murder case who fell to police bullets, was buried at the same graveyard on Saturday.

There was heavy police presence at the graveyard and only a few distant relatives of the deceased brothers and locals were present inside the burial ground. Asad was the third of the five sons of Ahmad, a former Samajwadi Party (SP) MP, and was absconding since Umesh Pal's killing on February 24. (

#WATCH | UP: Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, who were shot dead yesterday amid police presence, buried in Prayagraj. pic.twitter.com/q2wolsGIbk

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 16, 2023

Mudik - Polres Karawang turunkan tim penyapu ranjau paku di jalan arteri

Foto: kompas.com

Satuan Lalu Lintas (Satlantas) Polres Karawang menurunkan tim penyapu ranjau paku di sepanjang jalan arteri yang menjadi jalur mudik wilayah Kabupaten Karawang, Jawa Barat.

"Tim sapi bersih ranjau paku ini sudah diturunkan sejak beberapa hari terakhir," kata Kasatlantas Polres Karawang AKP La Ode Habibi Ade Jama, di Karawang, Minggu.

Ia mengatakan tim penyapu ranjau paku akan terus melakukan aksi penyisiran jalan di sepanjang jalur mudik wilayah Karawang.

Penyisiran ranjau paku dilakukan mulai di titik perbatasan Karawang-Bekasi hingga jalur Pantura.

Menurut dia, penyisiran ranjau paku, di antaranya bertujuan untuk memberikan rasa aman dan nyaman kepada pemudik dan masyarakat yang melintasi jalan arteri Karawang.

Ia menambahkan pihaknya menyiapkan tim yang dilengkapi dengan kendaraan roda empat yang dilengkapi dengan alat magnet untuk menyisir paku dan besi di jalanan.

"Kalau keberadaan paku di jalan sering membuat resah para pemudik," ujarnya.

Sementara itu, selama dua hari terakhir melakukan penyisiran ranjau paku, tim Satlantas Polres Karawang berhasil mengumpulkan cukup banyak paku, kawat dan sejenisnya di sepanjang jalan arteri.

"Ada sekitar setengah kilogram paku, baut dan kawat dari hasil penyisiran yang telah kami gelar," kata dia.

Sementara itu, jalur mudik di wilayah Karawang, selain jalan Tol Jakarta-Cikampek, juga ada jalan arteri mulai dari Tanjungpura (perbatasan dengan Bekasi) hingga jalur Pantura Gamon (perbatasan dengan Subang).

Selain itu, ada juga jalur alternatif atau jalur yang biasa dikhususkan untuk pemudik pesepeda motor dari jalan Lamaran hingga wilayah Cikalong, jalur Pantura Karawang.

Polisi Temukan 1,5 Kg Ranjau Paku di Jalur Pantura Karawang

Pada hari Sabtu, 15/04/2023, Kepolisian Resor Karawang menemukan 1,5 kg ranjau paku dan lainnya di sepanjang jalur mudik arteri Karawang, Jawa Barat.

Tim dari Satuan Lalu Lintas Polres Karawang melakukan sapu bersih ranjau paku di sepanjang jalur mudik. Hasilnya, polisi mendapati 1,5 kilogram paku, baut dan kawat.

"Hari ini saja dari pagi sampai siang, ada sekitar setengah kilogram paku, baut dan kawat dari hasil penyisiran," ungkap Kasat Lantas Polres Karawang AKP La Ode Habibi Ade Jama, S.Ik, MH, CPHR., hari Sabtu, 15/4/2023.

Penyisiran ranjau paku tersebut bertujuan untuk memberikan rasa aman dan nyaman kepada pemudik maupun masyarakat yang melintasi jalur tersebut.

Kasat Lantas Polres Karawang tersebut juga menjelaskan bahwa tim sapu bersih ranjau paku ini sudah dikerahkan sejak Jumat, 14/04/2023. Pada hari Sabtu, 15/4/2023, ini juga tim diturunkan dan terus setiap harinya.

Alabama mass shooting: 4 confirmed dead, reports of at least 20 injured at teenager's birthday party

A mass shooting at a birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama left four dead Saturday night. The shooting occurred at 10:30 pm and according to local news outlet WRBL, at least 20 people were shot at and sustained injuries. The injured were transported to local hospitals.

"Currently there have been four confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries," the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said in a statement.

A photo on social media reportedly showed families of the victims gathered outside the hospital.

The Tallapoosa County Coroner’s Office confirmed that multiple people have been affected by the shooting. The shooting happened at the Mahogany Masterpiece dance studio in Dadeville where a Sweet 16 birthday party was taking place. Local reports suggest that most of the victims are teenagers.

Earlier reports suggested that at least six people died in the shooting. A photo being shared on social media showed six bodies on the ground, all believed to be of teenagers. A witness was also quoted as saying by certain media sources that the number of dead is much higher and that there are a number of bodies at the scene covered in white sheets.

There is no official word yet on who the suspect is or what led to the tragic Alabama shooting. A WRBL report said an altercation possibly led to the shooting.

"The investigation is a result of a shooting which occurred at approximately 10:34 p.m. near the 200 Block of Broadnax Street in Dadeville, located in Tallapoosa County. Currently, there have been four confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries," ALEA said.

"The following agencies responded to the scene and are currently assisting with the investigation: The Dadeville Police Department, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, the Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the 5 Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing."

Local officials gave few details about the incident at their initial press conference besides confirming the shooting unfolded at a birthday party.

The White House told Fox News that President Biden has been briefed on the shooting in Dadeville.

"The White House is closely monitoring and has been in touch with local officials and law enforcement to offer support," the statement added.

This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians. Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge.

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) April 16, 2023

"This morning, I grieve with the people of Dadeville and my fellow Alabamians. Violent crime has NO place in our state, and we are staying closely updated by law enforcement as details emerge," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, tweeted Sunday morning

People line up behind police tape at the scene of a mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama. (The Alexander City Outlook )

Officials have not revealed the exact number of surviving victims, but a photo taken by a witness showed the bodies of at least six teenagers on the ground, according to BNO News.

According to the outlet, a witness at the scene said the total number of victims was higher than six, including multiple people who died at the scene. The witness observed white sheets covering the bodies.

A photo posted to Twitter shows multiple families gathered outside a local hospital following the incident.

Susan Foy, the Chief Marketing Director of Russell Medical Center in Alexander City, located about 18 miles from Dadeville, called the incident a "horrific tragedy."

Crime scene tape erected at the scene of a mass shooting in Dadeville, Alabama. (The Alexander City Outlook )

She confirmed to Fox News the hospital treated multiple victims and released them. Several victims with gunshot wounds have had to be transferred to other hospitals to better tend to their specific wounds/injuries. Of the victims treated at the medical center, she had no word on any fatalities. Foy would not get into ages of victims or a specific number. The hospital is a small, rural facility with just 81 beds. It’s not rare to transfer patients to other facilities that have access to more specialists.

Train carrying hazardous materials derails in Maine

A freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire Saturday morning near Rockwood, Maine, officials said. However, none of the hazardous materials aboard caught fire, according to railroad officials and state authorities.

A spokesperson for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) told CBS News in a statement that the train derailed at about 8:30 a.m. Eastern time due to a "track washout" in a rural wooded area about 15 miles east of the town of Jackman. A "track washout" often happens after heavy rain and washes away ballast and roadway under the track.

The fire department later posted a photo of the derailment, showing a fire breaking out on multiple cars of the train.

But a spokesperson for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited told CBS News that no evacuations were ordered and no threat to public safety existed. They said a fire started on three locomotives and train cars that were carrying lumber, but the cars carrying the hazardous materials were not affected.

A train derailed in Rockwood, Maine. April 15, 2023.
ROCKWOOD FIRE & RESCUE

The spokesperson told the outlet that the derailment happened at around 8:30 a.m. because of a “track washout,” which happens after heavy rain washes away the roadway under the train track. They said it happened in a rural wooded area.

The Hill has reached out to the fire department and the train company for additional comment.

Officials at the scene assessed the derailment and said the "hazardous materials are not at risk of leaking and are not at risk of catching fire," Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry spokesperson Jim Britt said in a statement.

Three railroad employees suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the derailment and are being treated at a nearby hospital, Britt added.

The derailment happened around 8:30 a.m. ET when the train came across a track washout in a rural wooded area, the rail network's spokesperson C. Doniele Carlson said in a statement.

It wasn't immediately clear which freight train carrier was operating the train Saturday.

"An early assessment indicates that the derailment may have been caused by a build-up of melting ice and debris that washed out part of the railroad track," according to the Maine Forest Service.

The three locomotive engines and six rail cars that derailed were carrying lumber and electrical wiring and caught fire causing a small forest fire, according to the Maine Forest Service. The fire is now contained and being monitored by local emergency first responders, the service said.

Maine Governor Janet Mills tweeted she was briefed on the train derailment and stated her office "will continue to closely monitor the situation" but that there was "no threat to public health or safety."

The rail network, which was inaugurated Friday, combines railways from Canada and the US to create "the first single-line railway connecting Canada, the U.S., and Mexico," according to a press release.

"CPKC is the only railway connecting North America and has unrivaled port access on coasts around the continent, from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of Mexico to Lázaro Cárdenas on Mexico's Pacific coast," the press release states.

Lavrov to visit Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba from April 17-21

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov © Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation/TASS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit several Latin American countries from April 17 through 21, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday.

"From April 17 to 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. The Russian foreign minister will have a rich program, which will include meetings with these countries’ leaders and talks with the foreign ministers," it said.

According to the ministry, the key goal of Lavrov’s tour is to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation between the countries in the political, trade-and-economic, educational, humanitarian, cultural, and other spheres.

"The talks are planned to focus on issues of strengthening the legal framework of the present-day world, which is based on the United Nations Charter," the ministry said. "Latin America is a friendly region, one of the centers of the formation of a multipolar world and Russian plans to maintain a dynamic dialogue with it, develop constructive cooperation free from any dictation from the outside.".

Russian delegation to visit Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in April, says Lavrov

A Russian delegation will visit Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in the second half of April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

In his article entitled ‘Russia and Latin America: Future-Oriented Partnership and Cooperation’ published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website, the top Russian diplomat noted that Russia favored strengthening cooperation with Latin American countries "on the basis of mutual support, solidarity and consideration of each other's interests".

"It is in this vein, in the spirit of strategic partnership, that our relations develop with many countries of the region, including Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, which our delegation will visit in the second half of April," the top diplomat noted.

Lavrov also pointed to the readiness of the Russian side "to build up diversified contacts at the level of heads of states and governments, parliaments, diplomatic services, other ministries and departments." "We are open for expanding cooperation on a multilateral basis, especially within the framework of the dialogue between Russia and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States," he added.

In addition, Lavrov drew attention to the expansion of the legal framework between Russia and Latin American countries in recent years. "This concerns, in particular, the creation of a space of mutual visa-free travel. Now it covers 27 states of Latin America and the Caribbean. All of South America and almost all of Central America have become visa-free for our citizens," the top diplomat concluded.

Lavrov's article was translated into Portuguese for the Brazilian newspaper Folha and into Spanish for the Mexican magazine Buzos.

Russia is forging closer ties with Latin America

As part of efforts to temper sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia is building closer ties with Latin American countries.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov (pictured), will visit Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, and stay in Brazil on April 17 and 18.

"The rapidly changing geopolitical landscape opens new opportunities for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and the states of Latin America. Countries in this region are playing an increasingly important role in a multipolar world order," Lavrov wrote in a column published by Folha de S. Paulo and Mexican magazine Buzos.

"In Russian foreign policy, Latin America and the Caribbean [LAC] occupy a priority position," he added. "Despite the sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and EU, our total exports to LAC countries grew by 3.8% last year. In 2022, Russia increased wheat exports to Latin America and the Caribbean by 48.8%," Lavrov wrote.

Latin America is generally open to initiatives by countries other than the US.

"In historical terms, even due to its geographic proximity, Latin America has always generated a lot of attention from the US, but in the last 10, 20 years, the region has completely ceased to be a priority for the US, opening up room for the increased influence of other countries in the region," Tulio Cariello told, research director of the China-Brazil Business Council.

The Cuban president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, showed Putin his support in his confrontation with the West by visiting Russia in December 2022, and he also condemned the arrest warrant issued against the head of the Kremlin by the International Criminal Court.

Recently, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, and the head of the largest Russian oil company, Igor Sechin, traveled to the Island.

At the beginning of the month, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to Moscow upon receiving a visit from the special adviser for International Affairs of the Brazilian Presidency, Celso Amorim.

Subsequently, Lula said that during his visit to Beijing he will propose to the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, to promote dialogue to restore peace between Russia and Ukraine.

The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Madurdo, offered Putin “all my support” since the beginning of the Russian military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.

On March 14, Russia and Venezuela celebrated the 78th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, ties that were strengthened with the arrival of the so-called Bolivarian revolution in 1999.

At the end of March, the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister, Denis Moncada, met with Lavrov and defended Moscow’s right to guarantee its “integrity and security.”

Lavrov also decorated Laureano Ortega Murillo, son of the Nicaraguan president, Daniel Ortega, with the Order of Friendship.

In the new Russian foreign policy, marked by the growing political, military and economic antagonism toward the West over Ukraine, Latin America is one of the priority regions.

In that sense, Lavrov’s tour is part of Lavrov’s recent trips to twenty countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, from the Maghreb to the Sahel and the south.