The UNODC report of January 2023 highlights the trafficking of medical products in the Sahel, including falsified, substandard and unauthorized medicines. Between January 2017 and December 2021, more than 605 tons of these products were seized during international police operations. The investigation reveals the involvement of various actors, including employees of pharmaceutical companies, civil servants, law enforcement officers, members of health agencies and street vendors, all motivated by financial gain. This trafficking seriously compromises public health and security in the region.

Security, Trafic, Santé publique, Médicament

The article, titled “Nigeria’s Unhappy Union: How Rising Insecurity Threatens the Country’s Future,” examines the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria. It highlights that recent attacks, such as the one on the police headquarters and a prison in Imo State, illustrate the state’s loss of control over violence. The authors identify several factors contributing to this instability, including the rise of secessionist movements, food insecurity, high unemployment, and endemic corruption. They warn of the risks of national disintegration unless urgent measures are taken to strengthen governance and address the socio-economic needs of the population.

Governance, Agriculture, Livestock, Conflict, Jihad, Poverty, Insécurité

The article highlights the need for an integrated approach combining security and development to stabilize the Sahel, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad. It highlights the region's growth potential, threatened by growing insecurity and a rapidly expanding population. Experts reject pessimistic outlooks, arguing that investments in peace and development would be cheaper than managing the consequences of a protracted crisis. They call for collaboration between researchers, diplomats, the military, humanitarians and development actors to define effective responses. The article also highlights the changing patterns of violence in West Africa, with the emergence of electoral conflicts, armed insurgencies and banditry, often linked to drug trafficking, arms trafficking and religious extremism.

Governance, Economic Development, Security, Development

The article highlights the ineffectiveness of purely security-based responses to the crisis in the Sahel. Despite ECOWAS’s adoption of a $1 billion plan to strengthen the armed forces, the security and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, particularly in the Liptako-Gourma and Lake Chad Basin regions. The root causes of insecurity are attributed to the marginalization of communities, poor governance, and the effects of climate change. The article advocates for a political approach that includes dialogue with local communities, improved governance, access to fair justice, and consideration of climate issues, in order to achieve lasting peace.

Security, Peace, Conflict, Cooperation

The article highlights the urgency of stabilizing the Sahel to preserve Africa's future. It highlights the growing vulnerability of the region, marked by insecurity, state collapse, and youth disenchantment. Recent attacks in Mali and Burkina Faso illustrate this deterioration. The author calls for the mobilization of African intellectuals to advise and support states in difficulty, beyond foreign military interventions alone. He emphasizes the need for active solidarity, particularly with Mali and Burkina Faso, and urges African civil societies to initiate strong actions to refocus the continent on its priorities. The objective is to counter the expansion of violence and insecurity, in order to allow the African utopia to come true.

Governance, Insécurité, Coopération régionale

Amnesty International’s 2021 article, “I have nothing left, except myself,” examines the growing impact of conflict on children in the Tillabéri region of Niger. Violence by armed groups, including the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), has led to the closure of many schools, depriving children of their right to education. Children are also exposed to psychological trauma due to violent attacks, forced displacement, and food insecurity. The report highlights the urgent need for the Nigerien authorities and the international community to protect children’s rights, ensure their access to education, and provide adequate psychosocial support.

Security, Conflict, Poverty

The unpublished report from the Tombouctou Institute, coordinated by researcher Lassina Diarra, examines radicalization and the perception of the terrorist threat in the Bounkani region, located in the far north of Côte d'Ivoire. This study highlights the weak signals and multiple factors of growing radicalization, which is particularly worrying in the context of the advance of terrorist groups towards coastal countries. The data collected indicate that this region is already experiencing the effects of the regionalization of the threat, illustrated by the attacks in Grand-Bassam in 2016. The proximity to countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali, as well as migration from Niger, accentuate Côte d'Ivoire's vulnerabilities. Faced with this situation, the Ivorian government has undertaken to redefine its security policy and territorial administration to counter this growing threat.

Jihad, Terrorism, Vulnerability, Violence, Threat

The article emphasizes that West Africa, particularly the Sahel, faces a growing terrorist threat, exacerbated by jihadist groups like Boko Haram. These organizations primarily target youth, who are vulnerable due to unemployment, limited access to education, and lack of prospects. To counter this threat, military initiatives such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the G5 Sahel have been established to coordinate regional counter-terrorism efforts. However, the article advocates for a preventive approach focused on investing in youth. It suggests that educational programs and economic opportunities for young people could reduce their susceptibility to recruitment by extremist groups, thereby contributing to lasting stability in the region.

Security, Jihad, Terrorism, Youth, Violence

The WATHI article examines the United States' strategy to strengthen relations with African youth, seen as a rising force of the 21st century. Scholarship programs, such as the Mandela Washington Fellowship initiated by President Barack Obama, exemplify this "soft power" approach. These initiatives provide young Africans with opportunities in education, leadership, and entrepreneurship, while promoting a positive image of the U.S. The article also highlights the importance of education and technology transfer for the continent's development, particularly in addressing challenges in the Sahel. The U.S., as a strategic partner, is encouraged to support Africa without adopting a condescending stance, recognizing the continent's potential and contributing to its digital and economic growth.

Education, Youth, Development, Diplomacy