Other documents that may interest you :

• Journal article / Governance,

  Brothers in Arms? Vigilantism and Ambivalent State Responses in West Africa” 28/10/2025

  Summary :

  This article adopts a state-centred lens to examine how governments engage with vigilante groups within hybrid security governance in West Africa. Dra...

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  Country : Burkina Faso , Ghana , Liberia

  Organizations : African Security (Taylor & Francis)
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Journal article / Governance,
Brothers in Arms? Vigilantism and Ambivalent State Responses in West Africa” 28/10/2025
Summary :
This article adopts a state-centred lens to examine how governments engage with vigilante groups within hybrid security governance in West Africa. Drawing on Liberia, Ghana, and Burkina Faso, it shows that “ambivalence” is the norm. In Liberia, local co-operation with vigilantes supplements weak policing but triggers fears of partisan intimidation. In Ghana, the 2019 Vigilantism Act bans such groups, yet they persist through rebranding, informal party ties, and selective incorporation into state security. In Burkina Faso, the state formalized vigilantes via the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP), boosting counter-insurgency reach while heightening risks to civilians and social cohesion. The core claim is that regime-survival logics no less than state capacityshape whether authorities tolerate, ban, co-opt, or sponsor vigilantism. Consequently, boundaries between formal and informal security provision blur, producing mixed outcomes for public safety and state legitimacy.
Keywords :
Governance, Security, Social cohesion, Institution
Organizations :
African Security (Taylor & Francis)
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• Journal article / Security and human rights,

  Understanding Links Between Water Scarcity and Violent Conflicts in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin 27/10/2025

  Summary :

  This paper conducts a sub-national scale examination of the links between water scarcity and violent conflicts across the central Sahel and Lake Chad ...

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  Country : Burkina Faso , Cameroon , Chad , Mali , Niger , Nigeria

  Organizations : Earth’s Future (AGU / Wiley)
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Journal article / Security and human rights,
Understanding Links Between Water Scarcity and Violent Conflicts in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin 27/10/2025
Summary :
This paper conducts a sub-national scale examination of the links between water scarcity and violent conflicts across the central Sahel and Lake Chad Basin (2000-2021). Employing the water footprint concept and the Falkenmark index, the authors develop five monthly water-scarcity metrics (runoff, soil moisture, potential evapotranspiration, water consumption, demographics). The findings reveal high levels of water scarcity — especially green water scarcity (soil moisture deficit) and low Falkenmark index values (population-driven water stress) — during the dry, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons at all locations with recorded conflicts. This indicates an indirect relationship between green water scarcity, water-stress indices and violent conflicts. The study suggests that its methodology and results could help improve water-resources management and conflict-prevention efforts in the region and beyond.
Keywords :
Governance, Security, Conflict, water
Organizations :
Earth’s Future (AGU / Wiley)
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• Journal article / Governance, Security and human rights,

  The Current Status of Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea 24/10/2025

  Summary :

  The article “The Current Status of Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea” by Lamir Ado Mohammed and Dimitrios Dalaklis (World Maritime University) e...

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  Country : Cameroon , Niger , Nigeria , Benin , Togo , Ghana

  Organizations : Journal of Maritime Research – Spanish Society of Maritime Research (SEECMAR)
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Journal article / Governance, Security and human rights,
The Current Status of Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea 24/10/2025
Summary :
The article “The Current Status of Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea” by Lamir Ado Mohammed and Dimitrios Dalaklis (World Maritime University) examines the current state of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, focusing on Nigerian waters. Using a quantitative approach based on data from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the study finds a significant decline in piracy and sea crimes. This progress is attributed to coordinated efforts among NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FoGG) navies. The SPOMO Act has further deterred offenders. However, piracy appears to be shifting to other areas within the Gulf. The authors emphasize the need for an integrated approach including coastal community development, Blue Economy promotion, improved surveillance, and anti-corruption measures.
Keywords :
Bribery, Governance, Security, Piracy
Organizations :
Journal of Maritime Research – Spanish Society of Maritime Research (SEECMAR)
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• Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance, Security and human rights,

  Human Security in the Sahel: An Ideal in Crisis 28/10/2025

  Summary :

  In this article, Anta Barry explores the evolution of the concept of human security in the Sahel region and argues that its ambition is increasingly u...

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  Country : Burkina Faso , Mali , Niger

  Organizations : WATHI
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Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance, Security and human rights,
Human Security in the Sahel: An Ideal in Crisis 28/10/2025
Summary :
In this article, Anta Barry explores the evolution of the concept of human security in the Sahel region and argues that its ambition is increasingly unattainable. The central Sahel namely Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso represents a paradox: a territory rich in resources yet undermined by weak governance, colonial legacies, mis-aligned development policies and recurrent political instability. The notion of human security, initially focusing on protecting individuals from economic, political and environmental threats, is confronted with a “poly-crisis”: terrorist insecurity, climate change, food crises and the retreat of the state from basic services. Barry criticises the application of standardised international models that fail to reflect Sahelian realities and highlights the shrinking political space of states in the face of powerful external actors. The article concludes that without a rethink of approaches and a genuine empowerment of local actors, the ideal of human security in the Sahel will remain in crisis.
Keywords :
Governance, Climate change, Security, Development, Food security, Crisis
Organizations :
WATHI
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