This study explores the development of artisanal gold mining in the G5 Sahel countries and Senegal from 2012 to 2023, examining links to insecurity, regulation, and socio-environmental dynamics. While some reports suggest jihadist groups might finance themselves through gold mining, the study finds no conclusive evidence. It calls for more research on armed groups, gold trade circuits, public health issues, environmental impacts, and child labor. The report emphasizes the lack of coherent regional regulations and the highly localized nature of existing studies. Through both thematic and country-level syntheses, it highlights the need for context-sensitive approaches to better grasp the complex interplay of actors, practices, and governance surrounding artisanal mining.

Environment, Natural ressources, Development, Gold

The study “Civil Societies in the Sahel: A Reasoned Mapping” analyzes collective organizational forms across Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. It highlights the diversity of civil society ecosystems rooted in postcolonial histories. These actors go beyond their technical role to challenge state governance and advocate for human rights and social services. The study calls on AFD to revise its support strategy for civil society organizations (CSOs) by emphasizing deeper contextual knowledge, social proximity, funding sustainability, and balanced accountability. It recommends more flexible and long-term funding, grounded in economic and social rights, to strengthen locally rooted capacities in a region facing multiple overlapping crises.

Politics, Social, Medias, Civil Society

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

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