This article examines the impact of climate change and population displacement on the environment in the Hodh Chargui region of southeastern Mauritania. The Sahel, including Mauritania, is particularly vulnerable to global warming, with a projected temperature increase of 3°C by 2050, leading to desertification, drought, crop degradation, and soil erosion. The prolonged presence of refugees in the Mbera camp increases pressure on local resources such as water, fuelwood, and grazing land, creating potential tensions with host communities. In response, the Mauritanian government and its partners, including UNHCR, have incorporated environmental preservation into their strategies, notably through the National Strategy for the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Regional Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP/SCRAPP). Reforestation initiatives have been implemented since 2016, with thousands of trees planted in and around the Mbera camp, thanks to collaboration between UNHCR, SOS Desert, RET-Germany, and local communities

Climate change, Environment, refugee, Crisis

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

The policy brief “Sahel: Why stabilization efforts should address internal displacement” (April 2023), authored by Ekaterina (Katia) Golovko at the Clingendael Institute, highlights the critical role of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in stabilization strategies across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Governments are promoting the return of IDPs to “stabilize” regions, yet without preparedness in host communities, this may trigger strain on public services, increase local tensions, and fuel community conflict. The brief recommends integrating displacement concerns into stabilization planning, strengthening local institutional capacity, supporting IDP economic inclusion, and improving coordination between humanitarian and state actors. It also stresses the need for sustainable funding of social services, monitoring the impact of returns on communal dynamics, and fostering an inclusive political framework to achieve lasting stabilization.

Migration, Crisis management, Violence, refugee