This NATO StratCom COE report investigates the information environment in political and security crisis contexts in the Sahel Region, focusing mainly on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with relevance to Mauritania and Chad.Foreign information influence—particularly from China, France, and Russia—shapes narratives. Journalists face challenges related to financing, press freedom, and disinformation . The report recommends mapping media landscapes, enhancing monitoring of information campaigns, strengthening journalistic capacities, supporting independent local media, and promoting source transparency. These steps aim to provide reliable information during crises, counter manipulation, and support informed policymaking.

Security, Influence, Diplomacy, Infowar

The policy brief “Sahel: Why stabilization efforts should address internal displacement” (April 2023), authored by Ekaterina (Katia) Golovko at the Clingendael Institute, highlights the critical role of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in stabilization strategies across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Governments are promoting the return of IDPs to “stabilize” regions, yet without preparedness in host communities, this may trigger strain on public services, increase local tensions, and fuel community conflict. The brief recommends integrating displacement concerns into stabilization planning, strengthening local institutional capacity, supporting IDP economic inclusion, and improving coordination between humanitarian and state actors. It also stresses the need for sustainable funding of social services, monitoring the impact of returns on communal dynamics, and fostering an inclusive political framework to achieve lasting stabilization.

Migration, Crisis management, Violence, refugee

In this article, anthropologist Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan argues for a radical reform of national armies in the Sahel, in light of the failure of conventional military responses to jihadist insurgencies in Mali, Burkina Faso, and to a lesser extent, Niger. He criticizes the corruption, inefficiency, and disconnect of national armies, as well as the ineffectiveness of foreign interventions. The author calls for rebuilding armed forces that are protective, community-based, and respectful of human rights, able to establish “liberated zones.” He emphasizes the need to integrate military actions with development initiatives, state reconstruction, and local negotiations. Although imperfect, Niger stands as a potential example of progress. The core proposition lies in building public security with rural populations through a “people’s war” logic against jihadism.

State, Security, Terrorism, Military activity

This study presents an analytical mapping of research and knowledge production from 2012 to 2022 across six Sahelian countries. Based on 756 analyzed documents, it highlights dominant themes (security, governance, conflict mediation) and significant gaps (health, climate, youth, urban studies). It notes the overrepresentation of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and the underrepresentation of Chad, Mauritania, and Senegal. Interviews with Alliance Sahel members reveal a lack of coherent documentation strategy. The report recommends strengthening the PASAS platform through targeted monitoring, hyperlinking sources instead of requesting publication rights, and expanding thematic categories to enhance visibility and strategic value. It calls for closer collaboration between PASAS, FCDO, and USAID repositories.

Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production