In this 29 September 2024 episode of Ça fait débat avec Wathi on RFI, Gilles Yabi, head of the Wathi think tank, presents the key takeaways from a 19 September roundtable on security in the Sahel and neighboring coastal states such as Benin, Togo, and Ghana. He emphasizes the spreading jihadist threat, which is moving beyond the traditional hotspot of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, reaching littoral nations. Yabi highlights vulnerabilities related to porous borders, institutional unpreparedness, and weak regional cooperation. He underscores the limitations of local security forces and stresses the need for joint prevention measures, improved intelligence sharing, and robust crisis management. He advocates for the active participation of civil society and regional entities to prevent the spillover of Sahelian insecurity.

Boundary, Security, Jihad

The document explores the violent conflicts linked to the artisanal and semi-mechanized gold mining sector in Burkina Faso, particularly in the Sahel and South-West regions. The study identifies traditional conflicts (between artisans, with landowners and industrialists) and emerging conflicts (involving armed groups). It analyzes the causes of these conflicts, such as control of resources and cultural tensions, as well as their escalation due to the presence of armed groups. The report offers an assessment of positivist and denialist theoretical approaches to peaceful resolution, aimed at promoting societal cohesion

Politics, Governance, Gold

This document analyzes the resurgence of military coups in the central Sahel, notably in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as well as the resulting democratic challenges. Since 2012, these countries have experienced several overthrows of power, often seen as responses to the security and institutional weaknesses of the incumbent governments. The military transitions that follow typically extend the suspension of democratic rights and cast uncertainty over a return to constitutional order. Analyses of these transitional periods highlight the limited efforts to restore democratic governance, with delayed elections and increasing restrictions on civil freedom and the media."

State, Security

In response to their withdrawal from ECOWAS, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) with the goal of forming a confederation. This article places the initiative in historical context, recalling failed attempts at territorial federations in West Africa (like the OCRS and the Mali Federation). It examines the logistical and administrative challenges of governing such a vast, landlocked territory, and highlights the increased reliance on Russia (notably the Wagner Group) for security. The article raises concerns about a new form of geopolitical dependency. It concludes that the AES does not represent a genuine break but rather a repetition of unresolved post-independence issues: geographic isolation, internal tensions, ungovernability, and fragile regional integration.

State, Sovereignty, Diplomacy

This policy brief examines the influx of Burkinabe refugees into coastal West African countries (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin), fleeing both jihadist and state violence. Host countries implement varied reception strategies—refugee camps in Côte d’Ivoire, community-based or hybrid models elsewhere. Despite generally open policies, rising tensions stem from competition over local resources and perceptions of insecurity, especially toward Fulani pastoralist communities. Ghana notably conducted mass expulsions. The report advocates for flexible but structured policies, emphasizing local dialogue, systematic refugee registration, and equitable support to host communities. Maintaining an open-door policy is presented as crucial to prevent radicalization and preserve social cohesion in the face of prolonged displacement and regional instability.

Governance, Migration, Boundary, Conflict, Violence, refugee

This study explores the development of artisanal gold mining in the G5 Sahel countries and Senegal from 2012 to 2023, examining links to insecurity, regulation, and socio-environmental dynamics. While some reports suggest jihadist groups might finance themselves through gold mining, the study finds no conclusive evidence. It calls for more research on armed groups, gold trade circuits, public health issues, environmental impacts, and child labor. The report emphasizes the lack of coherent regional regulations and the highly localized nature of existing studies. Through both thematic and country-level syntheses, it highlights the need for context-sensitive approaches to better grasp the complex interplay of actors, practices, and governance surrounding artisanal mining.

Environment, Natural ressources, Development, Gold

This multi-country study evaluates bilingual and multilingual education initiatives in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Despite decades of political commitment and legal frameworks supporting bilingual schooling, its implementation remains limited. The use of national languages alongside French is shown to enhance learning outcomes, yet systemic barriers persist: lack of teacher training, insufficient teaching materials, and weak institutional follow-up. While promising programs like ELAN, SIRA, and Tin Tua exist, their scalability is hindered by inconsistent funding and logistical challenges. The study recommends targeted action plans, increased investment, structured governance, and context-specific teacher training to scale bilingual education. The goal is to align formal education with learners' linguistic realities and improve the quality and accessibility of education across the Sahel.

Education, Youth, Soicial sciences, Researh

This report details the methodology for developing and applying the Burkinabe Social Cohesion Index (IBCS), a tool designed to measure the level of social cohesion at the community level in Burkina Faso. Based on four core dimensions—inclusion, solidarity, conflict resilience, and trust—the IBCS generates both quantitative and qualitative localized data. The tool was co-developed with local stakeholders and is structured around 33 indicators grouped into 12 components. The report offers practical guidelines for implementation, from sampling procedures to result analysis. The IBCS aims to support peacebuilding and development actors in decision-making, while also empowering communities to assess and strengthen their internal cohesion.

Peace, Justice, Social cohesion

This article examines the surge in militant Islamist violence in the Sahel—especially Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—where attacks have risen by 140% since 2020. The author argues that traditional counterterrorism efforts are ineffective, as these groups function more like local insurgencies. A shift toward a counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy is recommended, centered on population protection, improved military mobility, civil-military cooperation, credible military justice, and robust logistics. The report emphasizes the need for mobile, modular, and integrated forces with air support and intelligence coordination. The author promotes a republican model of military conduct focused on legitimacy and community trust. Mauritania’s Special Intervention Groups (GSIs) and Cameroon’s Rapid Intervention Brigade (BIR) are cited as instructive models.

Security, Jihad, Terrorism, Counter terrorism