Other documents that may interest you :

• Journal article / Governance,

  Brothers in Arms? Vigilantism and Ambivalent State Responses in West Africa” 28/10/2025

  Summary :

  This article adopts a state-centred lens to examine how governments engage with vigilante groups within hybrid security governance in West Africa. Dra...

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  Country : Burkina Faso , Ghana , Liberia

  Organizations : African Security (Taylor & Francis)
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Journal article / Governance,
Brothers in Arms? Vigilantism and Ambivalent State Responses in West Africa” 28/10/2025
Summary :
This article adopts a state-centred lens to examine how governments engage with vigilante groups within hybrid security governance in West Africa. Drawing on Liberia, Ghana, and Burkina Faso, it shows that “ambivalence” is the norm. In Liberia, local co-operation with vigilantes supplements weak policing but triggers fears of partisan intimidation. In Ghana, the 2019 Vigilantism Act bans such groups, yet they persist through rebranding, informal party ties, and selective incorporation into state security. In Burkina Faso, the state formalized vigilantes via the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP), boosting counter-insurgency reach while heightening risks to civilians and social cohesion. The core claim is that regime-survival logics no less than state capacityshape whether authorities tolerate, ban, co-opt, or sponsor vigilantism. Consequently, boundaries between formal and informal security provision blur, producing mixed outcomes for public safety and state legitimacy.
Keywords :
Governance, Security, Social cohesion, Institution
Organizations :
African Security (Taylor & Francis)
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• NGO / Association report / Governance,

  Ligue Ivorienne des Droits de l’Homme and Others v. Côte d’Ivoire 24/10/2025

  Summary :

  This note reviews the September 5, 2023 judgment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Ligue ivoirienne des droits de l’homme and Other...

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  Country : Mali , Nigeria , Ivory Coste

  Organizations : American Journal of International Law
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NGO / Association report / Governance,
Ligue Ivorienne des Droits de l’Homme and Others v. Côte d’Ivoire 24/10/2025
Summary :
This note reviews the September 5, 2023 judgment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Ligue ivoirienne des droits de l’homme and Others v. Côte d’Ivoire (App. No. 041/2016), arising from the Probo Koala toxic waste dumping in Abidjan (Trafigura). The Court found five violations by Côte d’Ivoire: right to an effective remedy, right to life, right to health, right to a satisfactory environment, and right to information. It clarifies states’ positive obligations (prevention, protection, investigation, redress), links them to the Bamako Convention and regional environmental norms, and underscores corporate responsibility under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights while holding the state primarily responsible. Remedies include establishing a victims’ compensation fund, providing medical and psychological care, and adopting legislative and institutional reforms (civil/criminal corporate liability, hazardous-waste bans, capacity building).
Keywords :
Governance, Security, Human Rights
Organizations :
American Journal of International Law
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• Journal article / Governance,

  Countering the Wave of Democratic Backsliding and the Crisis of Democracy in West Africa 24/10/2025

  Summary :

  The article examines the wave of democratic backsliding in West Africa, highlighting main drivers : increased military influence in politics, electora...

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  Country : Burkina Faso , Mali , Niger , Nigeria , Senegal , Ivory Coste , Togo , Guinea , Ghana , Liberia , Sierra Leone

  Organizations : SAGE Publications (via la revue Insight on Africa)
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Journal article / Governance,
Countering the Wave of Democratic Backsliding and the Crisis of Democracy in West Africa 24/10/2025
Summary :
The article examines the wave of democratic backsliding in West Africa, highlighting main drivers : increased military influence in politics, electoral manipulation, constitutional changes benefiting incumbents, and lack of economic dividends for citizens. To counter this trend, the author suggests (1) addressing causes of military intervention particularly poor socio-economic conditions, (2) building trust in institutions such as the judiciary, media and electoral bodies, and (3) enhancing the role of civil society. Overall, the argument is that only through stronger governance institutions and better socio-economic outcomes for citizens can the trend of democratic decline be reversed.
Keywords :
Governance, Democracy, Institution
Organizations :
SAGE Publications (via la revue Insight on Africa)
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• Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance, Security and human rights,

  Human Security in the Sahel: An Ideal in Crisis 28/10/2025

  Summary :

  In this article, Anta Barry explores the evolution of the concept of human security in the Sahel region and argues that its ambition is increasingly u...

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  Country : Burkina Faso , Mali , Niger

  Organizations : WATHI
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Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance, Security and human rights,
Human Security in the Sahel: An Ideal in Crisis 28/10/2025
Summary :
In this article, Anta Barry explores the evolution of the concept of human security in the Sahel region and argues that its ambition is increasingly unattainable. The central Sahel namely Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso represents a paradox: a territory rich in resources yet undermined by weak governance, colonial legacies, mis-aligned development policies and recurrent political instability. The notion of human security, initially focusing on protecting individuals from economic, political and environmental threats, is confronted with a “poly-crisis”: terrorist insecurity, climate change, food crises and the retreat of the state from basic services. Barry criticises the application of standardised international models that fail to reflect Sahelian realities and highlights the shrinking political space of states in the face of powerful external actors. The article concludes that without a rethink of approaches and a genuine empowerment of local actors, the ideal of human security in the Sahel will remain in crisis.
Keywords :
Governance, Climate change, Security, Development, Food security, Crisis
Organizations :
WATHI
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