The Afrikajom Center colloquium, held in Dakar from March 8–10, 2023, gathered experts, researchers, and political actors to reflect on the multifaceted crisis facing democracy in West Africa. Discussions highlighted growing authoritarianism (e.g., third terms, state capture, rollback of freedoms), weak institutions, corruption, and the exclusion of youth and women. Participants called for a democratic renewal rooted in African contexts: checks on presidential power, independent judiciary, civic participation, inclusive governance, constitutional reform, and strengthened accountability. The event emphasized the need to rethink governance amid security instability, military transitions, and institutional inefficiency. It advocated for rebuilding a generational social contract and supporting the rise of a more participatory, context-responsive African democracy fit for 21st-century challenges.

Governance, Democracy, Transition, Rule of law

This report provides a critical assessment of the state of democracy, rule of law, human rights, and governance in West Africa. It highlights three interlinked crises: security, institutional, and health-related. Despite the presence of political pluralism, the region is witnessing growing authoritarianism, the persistence of third-term presidencies, and the erosion of institutions. Dysfunctional regulatory mechanisms are fueling political unrest, violations of fundamental rights, and contested elections. Based on country-level analyses, the report recommends strengthening the role of regional organizations, civil society, and African democratic norms. The aim is to alert decision-makers and social actors to the urgent need to rebuild a substantive and inclusive democracy in the face of current threats.

Governance, Democracy, Human Rights

The article explores the shortcomings of electoral democracy in Africa, often limited to formal processes with little impact on citizens' lives. It advocates for substantive democracy, focused on human dignity, reducing inequalities, and ensuring effective participation. The author highlights that post-electoral crises and armed conflicts, termed "new wars," weaken institutions and hinder democratic consolidation. He calls for rethinking the political contract by integrating inclusive policies and strengthening societal resilience against security challenges.

Governance, Inequality, Conflict, Democracy

The policy paper "Social Norms and Girls' Education" by the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI) examines the impact of social norms on girls' education in eight sub-Saharan African countries. The study identifies four major social norms hindering girls' education: child marriage, the low perceived value of girls' education, gender-based violence in schools, and domestic labor. These norms, reinforced by economic and sociocultural factors, limit girls' access to, participation in, and success at school. The report recommends transformative approaches, such as integrating gender equality into educational policies, community mobilization, and involving local leaders to change harmful social norms. It emphasizes the importance of gender-sensitive education to promote equality and empower girls.

Culture, Governance, Gender, Education, Inclusion, Equality

The article explores the link between natural resource exploitation and conflicts in Africa, highlighting that reliance on these resources has often led to armed violence and social inequalities. It advocates for a shift towards governance centered on intangible capital, emphasizing the importance of knowledge, innovation, and social justice. The author suggests that sustainable development in Africa should be based on empowering individuals through education and valuing indigenous knowledge, thereby reducing dependence on natural resources and promoting substantive democracy.

Governance, Natural ressources, Democracy, Social

This article analyzes the transformation of migration regimes in Central Sahel, especially in Niger, a country historically sidelined in migration studies. It details the rise of "transit" as a dominant migration regime from the 2000s, driven by international governance and EU externalization policies. Institutionalized through law (notably the 2015-36 anti-smuggling law), migration in Niger became increasingly criminalized and controlled. However, recent dynamics—including Sahelian crises (armed conflict, forced displacements), the 2023 repeal of migration laws, the growth of intra-African mobility recognized in Niger’s 2020 National Migration Policy, and the expansion of humanitarian infrastructure—challenge this framework. The Sahara now functions as a “trap space” for migrants, marked by constrained mobility, violence, and legal uncertainty. The article ultimately calls for a reconceptualization of transit not as passage or blockage, but as precarious, multi-directional movement shaped by both national policy shifts and regional instability.

Governance, Migration, Boundary

This article from Global Africa Sciences analyzes the legal challenges of Africa’s digital economy. It highlights the transformative impact of digital technologies and emphasizes the need for coherent legal and regulatory frameworks. Key challenges include data governance, cybersecurity, payment system interoperability, and user rights protection. Despite frameworks like the Malabo Convention and African Union digital strategies, implementation remains slow due to fragmented jurisdictions and limited enforcement capacity. The article advocates for a “third way” of regulation that combines legal rigor (hard power) with flexible experimentation (soft power), including the use of regulatory sandboxes. This hybrid approach aims to develop a sustainable, inclusive, and sovereign African digital economy aligned with local needs and global standards.

Governance, Economic Development, Numérique, Cybersecurity

Rebecca Mignot-Mahdavi’s report explores France’s military strategy against jihadist groups, particularly in the Sahel, revealing a lack of transparent legal justification. Unlike the U.S., which has openly articulated legal frameworks for its war on terror, France maintains silence, although its strategic documents and actions imply an extensive interpretation of international law. The author argues that France mirrors U.S. legal narratives by stretching the boundaries of jus ad bellum and jus in bello to legitimize ongoing military operations. Drawing on French parliamentary records and strategic reports, the paper highlights how France frames its fight as a generalized and indefinite war against jihadist groups. This implicit legal approach allows France to operate across borders and time without explicit legal constraint. Mignot-Mahdavi warns that such legal ambiguity normalizes endless conflict and undermines accountability, challenging the international rule of law.

Governance, Security, Terrorism, Counter terrorism, Crise humanitaire

The article "Maintaining Patriarchal Order through Silencing: Literary Territories of Female Subordination in Cameroon" by Nadine Machikou examines the controversy triggered by the debut novel of Marzouka Oummou Hani, a high school student from northern Cameroon. Her fictional narrative addresses patriarchal violence in a setting modeled on the real village of Idool. The backlash, including a lawsuit and state mediation, unveils the institutional mechanisms used to silence women’s voices. While the novel is defended as fiction, authorities push for a revision and public apology, reinforcing patriarchal control over female expression. Based on both ethnographic research and literary analysis, the article highlights how literature becomes a site of feminist resistance, where themes of gender, age, religion, and class intersect. It also sheds light on the symbolic and political forces that shape who is allowed to speak, write, and define social reality in contemporary Cameroonian society.

Governance, Women, Discrimination