The report titled "Security Sector Reform and Governance in Senegal," written by Colonel Babacar Diouf and published by the African Security Sector Network (ASSN) on January 22, 2024, examines the historical evolution and current state of Security Sector Governance (SSG) in Senegal. It analyzes key components of the sector, including the Army, Gendarmerie, Police, Special Forces, Intelligence Services, and the Penitentiary Sector. The article highlights major reforms undertaken since independence to strengthen the capacities of the armed forces and underscores contemporary challenges the country faces in terms of security.

Governance, Security, Réforme

In this episode, hosts Enrica Picco and Rinaldo Depagne discuss with Jean-Pierre Olivier de Sardan, a Franco-Nigerien anthropologist, and Jean-Hervé Jezequel, Sahel Project Director at International Crisis Group, to assess the first year of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). They address the ongoing deterioration of the security situation in the central Sahel, exemplified by the September 17, 2024 attack in Bamako. The guests examine the similarities and differences in the new forms of governance emerging in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as well as the consequences of breaking ties with Western partners and turning to new international allies.

Governance, Security

The article "Performing (In)securities in West Africa: Territorial meshing and local participation in cross-border security" by Charline Kopf, published on December 19, 2023, by Presses universitaires de Louvain in the journal Anthropologie & développement, analyzes the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) border community engagement program in Senegal's border regions. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2019, the article examines various initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation between security forces and local communities, such as awareness-raising theater performances, comics, and a crisis simulation exercise. These "territorial meshing" practices promote a border control culture that shifts security responsibility to citizens. However, the author highlights that the emphasis on "local communities" participation contrasts with the global standardization of spaces and temporal logics of prevention and preparedness, creating tension between envisioned scenarios and their actual unfolding, thus opening space for criticism and questioning

Governance, Migration, Boundary, Security

The article titled “Defending the Village and Fighting for the Land: Armed Mobilization of Self-Defense Groups and Agricultural Labor in the Dogon Country, Central Mali” by Ibrahima Poudiougou, published in 2024 in the Revue internationale des études du développement, examines how armed self-defense groups affect rural communities in central Mali. Focusing on the June 8, 2022 attack on Makou village—where 350 jihadists displaced 422 households—the author explores how the rise of militias like Dan Nan Ambassagou has normalized violence and reshaped local sociopolitical dynamics. The article highlights the dual identity of these fighters, who are both peasants and combatants, managing agricultural work alongside armed resistance. It also delves into kinship-based solidarities and local agreements, which structure resistance and power relations in the Dogon region. The study offers insights into the complex intersection of security, rural livelihoods, and community resilience in conflict settings.

Governance, Agriculture, Security, Violence, Groupes armés non étatiques, Selfdefense

The article "The Emergence of 'Vidéomans' in Mali: Between Popular Expression and Tool of Disinformation" by Bah Traoré, published on March 28, 2025, by WATHI, examines the phenomenon of "vidéomans" in Mali. These influencers use social media to comment on national news through live videos, a trend that emerged between 2015 and 2018 with the rise of platforms like Facebook and YouTube. Initially focused on various topics, vidéomans have gradually shifted towards more politicized discourse, notably criticizing government management and foreign interference, particularly from France. Their growing influence led the Malian government to organize a workshop from March 6 to 8, 2025, bringing together several vidéomans to strengthen its communication and counter disinformation. However, the article highlights that the information disseminated by these vidéomans is not always accurate, posing challenges regarding information reliability.

Governance, Information, Numérique, Disinformation

The article "Reframing the Response of West African Coastal Countries to Violent Extremism" by Daniel Eizenga and Amandine Gnanguênon, published on August 20, 2024, by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, examines the spread of extremist violence from the Sahel to West African coastal countries. It highlights that nations such as Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania are increasingly affected by the activities of Islamist militant groups. The authors recommend a multidimensional response, combining the strengthening of ties with local communities, regional security cooperation, and the development of integrated strategies that consider local, national, and regional priorities to effectively counter this threat.

Governance, Security, Violence

Daniel Eizenga’s article identifies five major zones of violence involving Islamist militant groups in the Sahel. These areas have become epicenters of chronic insecurity, seriously affecting civilians and weakening state institutions. The key zones include the Liptako-Gourma tri-border area (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger), Northwestern Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin, Niger’s Tillabéri region, and Northern Benin. In each of these locations, jihadist groups exploit state fragility, community conflicts, and local grievances to entrench themselves. The article outlines how these groups have shifted tactics—moving from mobile insurgencies to localized governance and territorial control. Eizenga stresses that sustainable responses must combine security efforts with governance reforms, community dialogue, and inclusive development to effectively counter this growing threat.

Governance, Jihad, Violence, Insécurité

Despite improvements in certain indicators, the Nigerien healthcare system remains precarious and dominated by a logic of "inhospitable medicine." This fragility is largely explained by the predominance of intervention mechanisms and public policies largely dictated and funded by international donors, often far removed from local dynamics and the operational realities of healthcare services. However, in this constrained context, certain structures stand out for the quality of the care they provide. They are unique in that they are led by committed local actors, true "shadow reformers," who design pragmatic and contextually adapted solutions to daily dysfunctions. Based on an ethnographic investigation, this article examines the logics of innovation at work in these marginal spaces of transformation. Drawing on operational research, it argues for recognition and increased support for these bottom-up reform dynamics, which are likely to constitute a credible alternative – or at least a necessary complement – ​​to conventional approaches to improving health systems.

Politics, Governance, Public Administration, Health, Réforme, Politique publique

Despite some improvements, Niger's healthcare system remains fragile, characterized by "unwelcoming medical practices." Reform policies, often funded by international aid, struggle to adapt to the local realities of healthcare services. However, some facilities are providing better quality care thanks to "local reformers" who develop innovative solutions adapted to daily challenges, despite precarious working conditions. This article analyzes these local innovations using ethnographic data and proposes to explore "bottom-up" approaches to reforming the healthcare system, in addition to current strategies.

Governance, Public Administration, Health, Politique publique, Healthcare system