The report explores local perceptions of security and development cooperation in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel, in the context of French interventions, such as Operation Barkhane. The rise of sovereignism and the contestation of the foreign military presence have accentuated the divide between the expectations of local populations and the actions of Western powers. The impact of the information war, particularly with Russia, and persistent insecurity have reinforced these tensions.

Sovereignty, Security, Cooperation, Françafrique

On December 31, 2024, Burkina Faso saw the formation of a new government under Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo to combat insecurity and terrorism, after deadly attacks in the north of the country. The government announced the creation of rapid intervention battalions to reconquer areas controlled by terrorists. The country faces a rise in kidnappings and internal political tensions, exacerbated by the dissolution of Traoré's previous government, which maintained the fight against terrorism as a main priority.

Governance, Security, Terrorism

On December 31, 2024, Burkina Faso saw the formation of a new government under Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo to combat insecurity and terrorism, after deadly attacks in the north of the country. The government announced the creation of rapid intervention battalions to reconquer areas controlled by terrorists. The country faces a rise in kidnappings and internal political tensions, exacerbated by the dissolution of Traoré's previous government, which maintained the fight against terrorism as a main priority.

Governance, Security, Terrorism

The article analyzes security tensions in Mauritania, exacerbated by frontal incidents, notably the kidnapping of Mauritanians in Mali. Despite these challenges, cooperation with neighbors, such as Morocco, and international support via NATO, aim to strengthen regional security. The article highlights initiatives to improve armed forces training and bilateral cooperation.

Governance, Security, Cooperation

The jihadist insurgency in the Sahel, initially imported, has become endogenized, rooted in local and social conflicts. Jihadist groups control vast territories and impose “indirect government”, based on sharia, terror and the protection of populations against bandits. Despite external interventions (Minusma, Barkhane, G5 Sahel), jihadist expansion continued. National armies, crucial to the fight, suffer from corruption, violence against civilians and the absence of a security strategy. Local militias, often ethnic, exacerbate tensions. The use of Russian forces (Wagner) in Mali has not reversed the dynamic. A profound reform of national armies, the eradication of corruption and better security of populations are essential to counter this threat.

Power, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Education, Gold, Human security, Threat, Researh, Knowlege production

In December 2023, Chad adopted an amnesty law covering all offenses committed during the events of October 20, 2022, where at least 128 people lost their lives. ACAT-France criticizes this legislation, believing that it promotes impunity and goes against the government's commitments to human rights and the rule of law. Chad's National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) also expressed concerns, highlighting the lack of provisions for reparation for victims and considering this an obstruction of justice. The CNDH calls on the government to put in place reparation mechanisms and transitional justice to ease tensions. The events of October 20, 2022 were marked by violent repression by security forces against demonstrators demanding a real political change, leading to serious violations of fundamental rights.

Governance, Human Rights, Impunity

The article "From Oblivion to Recognition: 80 Years of Silence on the Thiaroye Massacre in Senegal" by Iris Sanner, published on January 17, 2025, by WATHI, discusses the belated acknowledgment of the Thiaroye massacre by Senegalese and French authorities. On December 1, 1944, Senegalese riflemen, returning from World War II, were killed by the French colonial army as they demanded payment of their wages. For decades, the official French narrative described it as the suppression of an armed mutiny, while survivors and many intellectuals denounced it as a colonial massacre. Only after 80 years did both countries officially recognize these events as a massacre, a change influenced by the rise of sovereigntist and anti-French sentiments in West Africa. This development aligns with France's recent memorial policies under President Emmanuel Macron, including the restitution of looted cultural artifacts and the establishment of historical commissions on sensitive colonial-related topics.

Governance, Memory policies

The article analyzes the growing threat from terrorist groups in northern Ghana, a region hitherto spared from major attacks despite its proximity to Burkina Faso. Ghana's Minister of Defense warns of the risks of terrorist establishment, particularly in Bawku, where attempted attacks have taken place. The article explores the strategies of armed terrorist groups to gain a foothold and highlight the country's vulnerabilities.

Governance, Security, Terrorism, Groupes armés

The article returns to the end of the French military presence in Chad, marked by the handover of the last base in January 2025, after more than fifty years of cooperation. This shift is seen as a movement for Chad's sovereignty, particularly after the death of Idriss Déby in 2021 and the termination of defense agreements in 2024 by his son, Mahamat Idriss Déby. France, which considered Chad as a strategic pillar for the stability of the Sahel, is today faced with the need to reconsider its alliances.

Sovereignty, Governance