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.

Governance, Climate change, Security, Development, Food security, Crisis

This study by Evans Yeboah and Václav Adamec, published in the Journal of Social and Economic Development (Springer Nature, June 9 2025), examines the effects of investment and trade on economic performance across twelve ECOWAS member states from 1993 to 2022. Using PMG-ARDL and NARDL estimation techniques, the paper finds that gross capital formation and trade openness positively influence long-run GDP per capita growth, whereas population growth, labor participation, unemployment, merchandise trade, and FDI exert negative effects. External debt is statistically insignificant in the long term. In the short term, increases in FDI and merchandise trade enhance income growth. Nonlinear estimations show that both increases and decreases in FDI dampen growth, while trade expansion boosts economic performance. The authors recommend promoting trade liberalization, improving FDI quality, ensuring sustainable debt management, and implementing labor-market reforms and export diversification strategies.

Governance, Economic Development, Trade, Economic growth

This narrative review explores how to integrate indigenous knowledge and modern technologies to process, preserve, and add value to West African indigenous crops (e.g., pearl millet, sorghum, fonio, yam, cowpea, leafy vegetables). Traditional methods—fermentation, sun-drying, roasting, soaking, ash/clay, and botanicals—extend shelf-life, enhance digestibility, and sustain cultural identity, yet are labor-intensive with variable hygiene and quality. Modern innovations—solar dryers, vacuum/modified-atmosphere packaging, defined starter cultures, mechanization, composite/fortified flours, cold chains, and digital tools—cut post-harvest losses, improve consistency, and open markets, but face barriers of cost, capacity, and access, particularly for women processors. The paper advocates hybrid approaches, decentralized processing hubs, and gender-responsive policies alongside training, finance, and market linkages. The ambition is year-round availability of nutrient-dense foods, stronger livelihoods, and more resilient, inclusive food systems across the region. Keywords: indigenous crops; post-harvest; preservation; value addition; nutrition security

Agriculture, Food security, Hygiène

This paper investigates the relationship between stock market development and economic growth across five West African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali) over the period 2005-2020, using panel data methods including fixed effects, random effects and system GMM estimators. The study assesses how market capitalization, trading volume, turnover ratio and number of listed companies affect GDP growth, controlling for macro-economic and institutional variables. Results indicate a positive and significant effect of market capitalization on growth (β ~0.043), a marginally significant effect of trading volume, and an insignificant role of turnover ratio. The number of listed companies per million population yields a positive effect. Interaction terms highlight that governance quality strengthens the growth impact of stock market development. Panel Granger causality tests reveal two-way causality between market capitalization and GDP growth in some countries. The author concludes that though modest, stock market development importantly contributes to growth, especially under strong institutions, and calls for policies enhancing market depth, governance and regional integration.

Governance, Economic Development, Development, Economic growth

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.

Governance, Security, Social cohesion, Institution

The article “The Current Status of Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea” by Lamir Ado Mohammed and Dimitrios Dalaklis (World Maritime University) examines the current state of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, focusing on Nigerian waters. Using a quantitative approach based on data from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the study finds a significant decline in piracy and sea crimes. This progress is attributed to coordinated efforts among NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy, and G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FoGG) navies. The SPOMO Act has further deterred offenders. However, piracy appears to be shifting to other areas within the Gulf. The authors emphasize the need for an integrated approach including coastal community development, Blue Economy promotion, improved surveillance, and anti-corruption measures.

Bribery, Governance, Security, Piracy

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.

Governance, Democracy, Institution

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).

Governance, Security, Human Rights

This paper investigates the effect of urbanization on household food security in Mali by using both objective (per capita food expenditure) and subjective (Household Hunger Scale) measures. The data set consists of 9,782 households surveyed in February 2018 under the national food security and nutrition survey (ENSAN) conducted by Mali’s Early Warning System (SAP). The findings indicate that urban households are less food secure than rural ones: urbanization significantly decreases food expenditure per capita and increases the likelihood of being food insecure (mild to moderate). Key explanatory factors include low and irregular urban incomes, heavy dependence on purchased food, and limited own-food production. The authors suggest policymakers should target urban poor households in food safety nets and social protection schemes.

Governance, Food security, Urbanisation