In this podcast published by WATHI on May 3, 2025, Pape Abdou Ndour discusses the political tensions in Côte d’Ivoire ahead of the October 2025 presidential election. He reflects on the potential fourth-term candidacy of President Alassane Ouattara, who already bypassed term limits in 2020. A renewed candidacy, he argues, would deal a serious blow to democracy in West Africa, where the trend of retaining power persists. The episode also highlights legal challenges faced by key opposition figures like Tidjane Thiam, raising concerns over a restricted political arena. The speaker calls for a peaceful democratic transition, urging President Ouattara to step down voluntarily in order to strengthen institutions and avoid deepening national and regional instability.

Politics, Governance, Democracy, Election

This report by the Timbuktu Institute examines the growing threat of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimīn (JNIM) in the tri-border area of Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal. The group expands its influence through violent operations, illicit economic activities (timber, livestock, mining), and ideological infiltration. Vulnerabilities in eastern Senegal—such as porous borders, youth unemployment, caste-based grievances, and the spread of Salafism—make it a potential target, despite the country’s current stability. The report highlights the resilience of Senegal, grounded in social cohesion, widespread religious moderation, effective and professional security forces, and local resistance to extremist narratives. It calls for strengthened border presence, enhanced cross-border cooperation with Mali and Mauritania, and increased involvement of local religious and traditional leaders to curb JNIM’s expansion strategy.

Security, Extremism, Radicalisation

Sudan's civil war, which erupted in April 2023, has led to the displacement of over one million refugees and returnees into eastern Chad, an area that is both remote and impoverished. This humanitarian crisis is placing immense strain on local resources and infrastructure. Intercommunal tensions are rising, particularly between Sudanese refugees and Chadian host communities, fueled by land disputes and ethnic rivalries. The presence of armed groups and the potential for regional destabilization are significant concerns. The article emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinated international response to support Chad, enhance border security, and prevent further escalation of the conflict.

Governance, Conflict, refugee, Crisis, Insécurité, Destabilization

In her review of Guérir en Afrique. Promesses et transformations, Géraldine Vernerey-Kopp examines a collective volume edited by Alice Desclaux, Aïssa Diarra, and Sandrine Musso. The book investigates the concept of healing in various African settings through a multidisciplinary and constructivist lens. Spread over 14 chapters and four parts, the work explores healing as a therapeutic promise, a collective construction, an individual perception, and a global health issue. It highlights the complexities of medical pluralism, the interaction between biomedicine, traditional, and religious healing systems, and the challenge of defining “healing” in chronic or socially constructed illnesses. Although the notion of healing sometimes remains elusive, the book offers valuable insights to rethink healthcare systems and the role of local therapeutic knowledge in Africa and beyond.

Power, Natural ressources, Education, Gold, Social, Health, Customs, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production

The article explores the impact of Covid-19-related misinformation in West Africa, where social media accelerates the spread of rumors and conspiracy theories, often faster than scientific facts. The authors identify structural causes of this "infodemic": distrust in authorities, information asymmetry, manipulation of data, and social fragility. Examples from Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire show how fear, stigmatization, and fake news intensify social tensions. The article calls for multilingual, inclusive, and creative public communication involving community leaders and influencers. It emphasizes the responsibility of governments, media, and civil society in ensuring the dissemination of reliable information. The authors argue that effective communication can mean the difference between life and death in a pandemic context.

Governance, Numérique, Réseaux sociaux, Disinformation

Bréma Ely Dicko’s article traces the history of forced migration in Mali from the colonial era to the present. During colonization (1893–1960), forced labor, head taxes, and military conscription caused massive displacements. After independence, political repression, Tuareg rebellions, droughts, poverty, and institutional fragility intensified these movements. The 2012 security crisis marked a significant shift, leading to unprecedented internal displacements and refugee flows, further exacerbated by the 2020 and 2021 coups. Drawing on documentary research and interviews, the article highlights the complex drivers of forced migration in Mali and the limited capacity of state responses. It emphasizes the humanitarian consequences, long-term exile, and growing social tensions in a persistently unstable environment.

Politics, Political party, State, Migration, Natural ressources, Education, Gold, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production

In this interview, Dr. Yacine Diagne, a political scientist and head of the radio department at CESTI, Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, advocates for the democratization of Senegal's media landscape. She emphasizes the importance of strengthening journalist training and promoting ethical and responsible information dissemination. Dr. Diagne highlights the need to combat misinformation, especially during electoral periods, by involving media outlets, institutions, and civil society. She underscores the crucial role of media in consolidating democracy and calls for balanced regulation that respects press freedom while ensuring the quality of disseminated information.

Governance, Democracy, Medias, Disinformation

Angeline Savadogo's article explores the shifting nature of foreign policy in the Sahel, once confined to diplomatic elites but now influenced by active youth participation. Young people, educated or not, increasingly engage with geopolitics—through protests, demands for sovereignty, and symbolic actions—reflecting a politicized but often under-informed citizenry. The article highlights the institutional void: youth centers are dysfunctional, formal diplomacy remains distant, and international norms like the Vienna Convention are little known. Social media becomes the main outlet for expression. Savadogo calls for inclusive strategic thinking involving youth, scholars, and institutions. She advocates for integrating international relations into educational systems and fostering participatory diplomacy. In the Sahel’s shifting geopolitical landscape, youth are not passive observers—they are emerging actors. Without structured engagement, they risk becoming destabilizing forces instead of constructive agents of change.

Sovereignty, Governance, Youth, Democracy

The joint pastoral surveillance bulletin by Action Contre la Faim (ACF) and Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Belgium (VSF-B) for February–March 2025 reports an overall satisfactory pastoral situation in Niger. Pastures remain widely available, surface water is sufficient, and markets are accessible. However, livestock body condition has slightly declined and suspected cases of animal diseases persist, though less than in previous periods. Prices of livestock and cereals have decreased, leading to a mild deterioration in terms of trade for herders. Incidents of bushfires, livestock thefts, and inter-community conflicts have also declined. The report recommends increased vaccination, awareness campaigns on transhumance, and better youth engagement to sustainably manage pastoral resources. Efforts should focus on improving disease surveillance, supporting pastoral markets, and sharing strategic information across communities.

State, Boundary, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Education, Gold, Information, Marché