“If you want to understand how the African Sahel became a hotbed of jihadism during the past two decades, there’s no better book to read than Laessing’s The Road to Bamako. As a Mali-based observer for a German foundation in the early 2020s, Laessing had a front row seat to the military coups, Russian machinations, and French arrogance that drove a deepening wedge between West Africa and Western Europe—and made a volatile situation even more violent. Roaming the region from Agadez to Timbuktu, Laessing documents the rise of radicalism with an insider’s access and a keen reporter’s eye. A triumph.”

Joshua Hammer, author of "The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu"

“Journalist Laessing reveals his deep knowledge of the Sahel in this highly accessible account of the major issues bedevilling the region, from global jihadism to the migration crisis. Drawing on years of firsthand experience and a wide range of contacts, Laessing presents a book that is thoroughly documented, compelling, and populated with personal observations and anecdotes.”

Ronald Bruce St John, author of "Qaddafi: Beyond the Myth"

“Combining years of firsthand experience with a deep knowledge of the region, Laessing offers a timely and engaging account of the political and security dynamics shaping today’s Sahel. Accessible without sacrificing nuance, this book provides valuable insights through interviews with local populations into one of the world’s most strategically important—and often misunderstood—regions.”

Nina Wilén, director of the Africa Programme, Egmont Institute

“Laessing has written a superb book—one I wish I’d had when I was sent to the region as a young reporter. Most books on the Sahel are academic, dusty French tomes which see the region through a particular and sometimes jaded lens. This highly readable and well researched yarn serves an excellent introduction for new comers and doesn’t hold any punches from those responsible for the grim tidings we hear from the region today.”

Will Brown, senior policy fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations

“In The Road to Bamako, Laessing draws on five years spent in Bamako and long familiarity with the African continent to deliver a rare, clear-eyed journey through one of the world’s most misunderstood regions. Steering clear of academic condescension and stale European assumptions, he offers an immersive account of a pivotal geopolitical moment. As France, the United States, Algeria, and Russia all stumble in their attempts to shape the countries of the Sahel, Laessing writes from close range, with a grounded, observant restraint. Anyone interested in African affairs should dive into this fluid, vivid, and deeply informed book.”

Jalel Harchaoui, Royal United Services Institute