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 article “Obstacles to access and continuity of education for children in situations of forced displacement in the Central Sahel region – Mali” identifies several major challenges hindering access to education for internally displaced and refugee children. These obstacles include the absence of nearby schools, financial constraints, distance to schools, lack of available places and persistent insecurity. Internally displaced children are particularly affected by domestic work, while refugee children suffer more from the lack of educational infrastructure. The study also highlights the negative impact of the absence of school canteens, especially in a context of food insecurity, and the importance of school latrines to encourage girls’ schooling. Recommendations are made, such as the development of incentive measures (scholarships, school kits, bonuses) to promote access to and retention in school for children at risk of dropping out or not attending school.

Education, Food security, Poverty, Human security

The document addresses the military presence in Mali and Niger, highlighting the return of military juntas to power since 2020. It analyzes the causes of the coups and the historical influence of the military on politics in these two countries, which has been exacerbated by the heightened insecurity caused by jihadist groups. The military regimes, seeking to assert their sovereignty and legitimize.

Power, State, Security, Justice, Political Violence, Education, Human security, Threat, Soicial sciences, Knowlege production

Resistance, Alternation, Sovereignty" delves into Mali's socio-political developments since the 2020 crisis, highlighted by the ousting of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and subsequent political transitions. Coordinated by Sten Hagberg, the book analyzes popular mobilizations against corruption and mismanagement, embodied by the June 5 Movement - Rally of Patriotic Forces (M5-RFP). It also examines the role of international actors like ECOWAS and the growing tensions between Mali and its partners, particularly France. The work sheds light on the popular desire to rebuild a "Mali Kura" (New Mali) while contextualizing the security, political, and socio-economic challenges. It adopts a citizen-centric approach to the perceptions and struggles amidst change, drawing comparative insights with other regional crises.

Politics, State, Sovereignty, Governance, Security, Justice, Human security, Social

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