Other documents that may interest you :

• Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance, Security and human rights,

  The Effectiveness of Defense and Security Forces in the Sahel and West Africa 17/11/2025

  Summary :

  The article examines the effectiveness of defense and security forces in the Sahel and West Africa amid the rise of terrorist groups. Since the 1990s,...

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  Country : Burkina Faso , Mali , Mauritania , Niger , Benin , Ivory Coste , Togo

  Organizations : WATHI
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Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance, Security and human rights,
The Effectiveness of Defense and Security Forces in the Sahel and West Africa 17/11/2025
Summary :
The article examines the effectiveness of defense and security forces in the Sahel and West Africa amid the rise of terrorist groups. Since the 1990s, structural weaknesses—poor equipment, limited training, and lack of modernization—have undermined national armies’ ability to confront asymmetric threats. Armed groups exploit these vulnerabilities, relying on insurgent and guerrilla tactics that outperform conventional military approaches. The document highlights varied national situations: the fragility of Mali and Burkina Faso, the relative preparedness of Niger, and Mauritania’s successful military reforms. It also emphasizes the shortcomings of foreign operations and the operational limitations of the G5 Sahel Joint Force. The article recommends strengthening military capacities, adopting counter-insurgency doctrines, enhancing cooperation with local communities, improving regional coordination, and investing in intelligence and surveillance.
Keywords :
Governance, Security, Terrorism, Coopération régionale
Organizations :
WATHI
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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. 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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• Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance, Inclusion, Security and human rights,

  Cameroon: Calming Water-Related Struggles in the Far North 07/10/2025

  Summary :

  The article “Cameroon: Calming Water-Related Struggles in the Far North” (International Crisis Group, April 2024) examines how climate change, recurre...

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  Country : Cameroon

  Organizations : WATHI
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Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance, Inclusion, Security and human rights,
Cameroon: Calming Water-Related Struggles in the Far North 07/10/2025
Summary :
The article “Cameroon: Calming Water-Related Struggles in the Far North” (International Crisis Group, April 2024) examines how climate change, recurrent droughts, and demographic pressure intensify tensions among communities (herders, fishermen, farmers) in Cameroon’s Far North region. In 2021, several deadly clashes occurred over contested water access points. The report calls for stronger local water governance mechanisms, promotion of co-management agreements, investment in water infrastructure, and improved intercommunity dialogue. It emphasizes the need for an inclusive approach that addresses climate vulnerabilities and social inequalities to prevent escalating violence.
Keywords :
Governance, Climate change, Security, Conflict, Terrorism, water
Organizations :
WATHI
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• Journal article / Governance, Security and human rights,

  The Western Region of Mali: A New Area of Interest for Terrorist Groups 22/10/2025

  Summary :

  The article examines the growing influence of militant groups, especially the JNIM, in western Mali (regions of Kayes, Nioro, Diboli). After the coord...

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  Country : Mali , Senegal

  Organizations : WATHI
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Journal article / Governance, Security and human rights,
The Western Region of Mali: A New Area of Interest for Terrorist Groups 22/10/2025
Summary :
The article examines the growing influence of militant groups, especially the JNIM, in western Mali (regions of Kayes, Nioro, Diboli). After the coordinated attacks on 1 July 2025, a blockade was implemented, disrupting transport and economic flows (buses stopped, fuel tankers attacked). The Bamako–Kayes–Dakar corridor, essential for energy supply and commercial exchanges with Senegal, is now endangered. Mali is attempting to bolster its military infrastructure (including a new camp in Nioro) but struggles to maintain a lasting presence, while the terrorists favour high-impact, mobile operations rather than permanent occupation. Senegal is engaging in mixed border patrols, recognizing that the threat, although diffuse, remains real.
Keywords :
Governance, Boundary, Security, Terrorism, Economic growth
Organizations :
WATHI
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