For decades, the safe transportation of oil from the Persian Gulf has been a major security concern for the United States. But there are reasons for the U.S. to reevaluate whether it truly needs to invest military resources in protecting it.

In 2014, following 27 years of rule by President Blaise Compaoré, Burkinabe citizens took to the streets in protest of Compaoré’s decision to seek an extension of presidential term limits and resulting in his resignation. Five years after the protests, Burkina Faso has since held the national election that activists demanded. Nevertheless, challenges continue to test the country’s democratic development, including issues and delays surrounding key country-wide decisions, insecurity in the Sahel, and weak rule of law. International organizations need to capitalize on progress made to date and continue supporting democratic growth in Burkina Faso.

Managing Editor Mike Sexton spoke with The Intercept’s Murtaza Hussain about the recently released Iran Cables investigative piece — and what they tell us about the region’s future.

President Putin’s Sochi Summit brought an unprecedented number of African leaders to Moscow, developing Russia’s prestige as a supplier of arms to the continent and rattling the U.S. foreign policy establishment.

Reporting of Bolivian Election results stopped suddenly sparking protests that eventually led to the ouster of President Evo Morales. However, this crisis may have been averted had the Organization of American States set the precedent of preventing the erosion of democracy.