The article “Substantive democracy: an alternative for societies of resignation and silencing” examines democratic backsliding in West and Central Africa. Jean-Marc Segoun highlights “hybrid” regimes—whether civilian or military—sustaining power through gerontocracy, clientelism, militarization, and coercive use of law. These systems foster fear, resignation, and silence political opposition while curtailing fundamental freedoms. Recent examples include the dissolution of political parties in Mali, repression in Burkina Faso, civil rights restrictions in Côte d’Ivoire, and entrenched authoritarianism in Cameroon. The author argues that civil society must move beyond neutrality to become a political force proposing viable alternatives. This requires building networks, sharing practices, and inventing new paradigms suited to contexts of repression. “Substantive democracy” is proposed as a framework to resist authoritarianism, regenerate political thought, and offer pathways toward inclusive governance in societies where traditional democracy has been hollowed out.

Governance, Democracy, Civil Society

The working paper “Digitalisation and Governance in the Sahel”, authored by Mori Gouroubera and published in February 2025, examines the growing role of digital transformation in governance across Sahelian countries. The paper highlights the opportunities provided by digitization—such as increased transparency, administrative efficiency, and citizen participation—while also identifying key obstacles including insufficient digital infrastructure, the digital divide, weak institutional coordination, ethical concerns, and cybersecurity. It analyzes digital services in key sectors like health, agriculture, and public services, and envisions three future scenarios: inclusive digital governance, fragmented digitization, or digital regression. The author’s recommendations stress the importance of reinforcing regional cooperation, investing in infrastructure, training populations, diversifying funding, and ensuring data protection. This framework aims to inform policies that foster a sustainable, inclusive, and contextually relevant digital transformation in the Sahel.

Governance, Numérique, Cybersecurity

This study examines the sharp decline in under-five mortality in Burkina Faso from 2010 to 2021, using Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data and the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method. Findings indicate that under-five mortality dropped from 128 per 1,000 live births in 2010 to 48 per 1,000 in 2021. The decline is mainly explained (77%) by performance effects, including behavioral changes and the effectiveness of health policies, while demographic composition changes accounted for only 23%. Key factors include the reduction in uneducated mothers, wider use of mosquito nets, urbanization, and improved health behaviors among unemployed women. Nevertheless, significant disparities remain in high-risk regions such as the Sahel and the Southwest, where targeted interventions are essential to improve healthcare access and reduce inequalities. The study highlights the importance of integrating health policies with education, economic development, and sanitation for sustained progress.

Politics, Economic Development, Gender, Conflict, Religious education, Education, Development, Family, Women, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Démographie, Santé publique

This article, published on August 17, 2025, in the Les Voix(es) de WATHI podcast series, discusses West Africa’s youth challenges, focusing on Senegal where half of the population will be under 25 by 2050. Confronted with barriers in education, employment, and civic participation, the Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal (CJS)—launched in 2020—brings together ten organizations to establish an enabling ecosystem for youth empowerment. It is founded on three pillars—Jang (learning), Bokk (inclusion), and Ligeey (employability)—and initiated the ambitious Yaakaar 2030 (“hope”) program in 2024, backed with nearly 12 billion CFA francs. Its two key components target youth civic engagement (5.2 billion CFA) and entrepreneurship (6.4 billion CFA). Digital platforms like Guichet Jeunesse and Edupop.sn provide centralized access to educational and opportunity resources. The initiative has already inspired similar youth consortiums in Benin and Mali.

Youth, EMPLOYMENT, Numérique, Inclusion

Over the past decade, more than 155,000 deaths have been attributed to militant Islamist groups in Africa. The **Sahel—especially Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—**has become the epicenter of this violence, with attacks surging since 2020. JNIM (linked to al-Qaeda) and ISGS (Islamic State in the Greater Sahara) dominate the region, expanding toward coastal West Africa. Burkina Faso accounts for more than half of recent fatalities, while Mali has suffered over 17,000 deaths since 2020. Niger, destabilized by the 2023 coup, has seen casualties quadruple. Somalia, with al-Shabaab, and the Lake Chad Basin (Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger) also remain deadly hotspots. The report highlights states’ territorial loss, with nearly 1 million km² outside government control, and forced displacement affecting over 3.5 million people. The data underscores the escalating lethality of militant Islamist groups and the urgent need for coordinated responses.

State, Natural ressources, Security, Peace, Political Violence, Human security, Violence, Threat, Civil Society

This article offers an innovative reflection on protective knowledges, defined as knowledge, techniques, and practices drawn from socioculturally rooted local experiences aimed at preventing, addressing, and bolstering resilience against gender-based violence (GBV) in Africa. Positioned between traditional knowledge and imported models, this know-how emerges through hybridization or invention, adapting to contextual realities. It is robust, pragmatic, and capable of transforming unequal social relations. The article criticizes classical epistemological approaches that oppose endogenous and exogenous knowledge and advocates for a third, decolonial, inclusive, and critical path. Through their capacity to mobilize diverse actors (local communities, NGOs, traditional leaders…), these knowledges become powerful levers for prevention, healing, and social transformation. Global Africa invites us to recognize, theorize, and valorize these dynamics rooted in community practices.

Governance, Security, Women, Violence, Inclusion

The article titled “Expertise, Pragmatism and Kindness at the Service of Female Entrepreneurship: The Experience of the Women Investment Club (in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire)”, published by WATHI Think Tank on August 10, 2025, recounts the creation of the Women Investment Club (WIC). Founded in 2015 by prominent women including Madjiguène Sock, Thiaba Camara Sy, Seynabou Seck, and the late Alassane Athia Wade, WIC aimed to foster a supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs by providing access to capital and skills. Officially launched in 2016 with an initial investment of 250 million CFA francs, WIC today mobilizes approximately 1.5 billion CFA francs in Senegal and comprises 105 members; in Côte d’Ivoire, it brings together 65 women. In 2019, WIC established WIC Capital, an investment fund dedicated to female-led enterprises, and in 2020, WIC Academy was launched to provide training and mentorship. The initiative exemplifies a rigorous, pragmatic, and kind approach to narrowing gender finance gaps.

Governance, Women, Entrepreneurship, Inclusion, Training

The video article titled “The government should develop a relevant research program for Niger...” features Dr Yaye Aissatou Dramé, Director of Research at Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, and was published by WATHI Think Tank on August 10, 2025 . As a scholar known for her expertise in agro-food systems, agroforestry, and natural resource management, she advocates for a tailored national research program that addresses Niger’s specific challenges . Such a program, she argues, would enhance the country’s ability to tackle issues related to sustainable development, food security, and resource management by leveraging local researchers and aligning with national priorities

Governance, Agriculture, Natural ressources, Researh, Sustainable development

The article “Assessing the Impact of Climate Extreme Events and Conflicts on Internal Displacement in Burkina Faso”, published in January 2025 in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, explores the dynamic links between climate extremes (floods, storms, droughts), conflicts (violent and non-violent, protests), and internal displacement in Burkina Faso from 2018 to 2022 . Findings reveal that in the short term, violent conflicts, demonstrations, and storms are associated with increased internal displacement. In the long term, only violent conflicts and storms remain significantly linked to displacement, while floods show no significant impact and the effect of demonstrations diminishes over time . The study underlines the need for effective conflict management and climate adaptation strategies to mitigate forced displacement.

Migration, Climate change, Security, Conflict