The article “Revisiting an Aporia: The Effectiveness of the Legal Framework Against Violence Toward Women in Burkina Faso”, written by Paliguewinde Martin Sawadogo, Doctor in Public Law and Postdoctoral Researcher at Université Laval (Canada), examines the strengths and limitations of Burkina Faso’s legal system in combating violence against women (VAW). Using an empirical and positivist approach, the author highlights that while legislative and institutional progress has been made, several shortcomings persist: the lack of legal definitions for some forms of violence, weak sanctions, and underfunded mechanisms. He suggests a more integrated strategy that includes traditional and religious authorities as key players in social transformation. Their involvement could enhance the effectiveness of legal measures and promote broader societal change. The article ultimately calls for bridging formal law with cultural and local leadership to address VAW more comprehensively.

Women, Violence, Customs, Law

This article explores the role of Mbororo women in climate change adaptation in Cameroon’s North-West region. Despite their marginalization due to patriarchal traditions, these indigenous women have developed resilient agro-pastoral strategies such as small-scale livestock farming, dairy production, pasture cultivation, and income diversification. Using an ecofeminist framework, the study shows that women possess ecological knowledge systems passed across generations, including weather prediction and traditional veterinary practices. While facing barriers such as discrimination, limited access to land, education, and credit, their contribution to sustainable livelihoods is substantial. The author calls for greater recognition of indigenous knowledge and enhanced inclusion of women in climate adaptation policies.

Pastoralism, Women, Discrimination

This article analyzes the transformation of migration regimes in Central Sahel, especially in Niger, a country historically sidelined in migration studies. It details the rise of "transit" as a dominant migration regime from the 2000s, driven by international governance and EU externalization policies. Institutionalized through law (notably the 2015-36 anti-smuggling law), migration in Niger became increasingly criminalized and controlled. However, recent dynamics—including Sahelian crises (armed conflict, forced displacements), the 2023 repeal of migration laws, the growth of intra-African mobility recognized in Niger’s 2020 National Migration Policy, and the expansion of humanitarian infrastructure—challenge this framework. The Sahara now functions as a “trap space” for migrants, marked by constrained mobility, violence, and legal uncertainty. The article ultimately calls for a reconceptualization of transit not as passage or blockage, but as precarious, multi-directional movement shaped by both national policy shifts and regional instability.

Governance, Migration, Boundary

This article from Global Africa Sciences analyzes the legal challenges of Africa’s digital economy. It highlights the transformative impact of digital technologies and emphasizes the need for coherent legal and regulatory frameworks. Key challenges include data governance, cybersecurity, payment system interoperability, and user rights protection. Despite frameworks like the Malabo Convention and African Union digital strategies, implementation remains slow due to fragmented jurisdictions and limited enforcement capacity. The article advocates for a “third way” of regulation that combines legal rigor (hard power) with flexible experimentation (soft power), including the use of regulatory sandboxes. This hybrid approach aims to develop a sustainable, inclusive, and sovereign African digital economy aligned with local needs and global standards.

Governance, Economic Development, Numérique, Cybersecurity

In this interview, Dr. Sarr emphasizes that the main political priority for Senegal's next president should be to re-establish dialogue and restore citizens' trust in institutions. He highlights the importance of continuous dialogue between the government and the opposition, even outside electoral periods, to strengthen democracy and ensure national stability. Dr. Sarr also underscores the need to heed the aspirations of the youth, who constitute approximately 65 to 70% of Senegal's population, and to involve them more actively in nation-building. He addresses critical challenges such as youth unemployment, reforming the education system, combating inflation, managing clandestine immigration, and improving the healthcare system. Finally, he calls for a reassessment of Senegal's hyper-presidential political system to achieve a better balance of power and greater autonomy for judicial and legislative institutions.

Youth, Election, Dialogue, Institution, Hyperprésidentialisme

This study aims to understand the vulnerability of livestock farming in the urban commune of Filingué, Niger, to environmental changes. A total of 240 household heads were surveyed across eight selected villages. Findings reveal that pastoralists perceive climate change through increased temperatures (24% of respondents), prolonged droughts (58%), and more frequent violent winds (18%). These factors negatively impact pastoral activities, making livestock farming highly vulnerable. Adaptation strategies include transhumance (25%), purchasing livestock feed (22%), destocking animals (15%), and forage storage (15%). During critical periods, 23% of pastoralists use a mixture of bran and millet glumes or cardboard to feed their livestock. These indigenous strategies require support to enhance their effectiveness.

Pastoralism, Climate change, Vulnerability

The article examines strategies adopted by Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal to ensure the availability of primary school teachers. In Burkina Faso, regionalized recruitment since 2003 aims for equitable distribution of teachers, though adjustments have been made due to social and union pressures. In Côte d'Ivoire, the Centres d'Animation et de Formation Pédagogique (CAFOP) train assistant teachers over three years, with a recruitment target of 6,600 teachers annually as per the 2016-2025 sector plan. In Senegal, the profession's appeal is based on accessibility (59%), job security (19%), promotion opportunities (14%), and length of school vacations (8%). These countries employ diverse approaches to address challenges related to the availability and retention of primary school teachers.

Education, Public Administration, Recruitment, Training

The February 2025 monitoring report covers 56 micro-enterprises supported in Bassikounou, Mauritania, under a project funded by UNHCR. These enterprises span six sectors including agriculture, livestock, and general trade. Despite a fragile economic environment, there is a slight improvement in savings and investment. However, access to financing remains limited due to the lack of tailored financial structures. Entrepreneurs face several challenges such as client debt, high input costs, and poor adoption of management tools. Most businesses report the ability to meet their debts, reflecting a degree of economic resilience. NGOs and local institutions play a crucial role in technical support and financial inclusion. Nevertheless, the sustainability of these businesses depends on more strategic, long-term financing options.

Agriculture, Economic Development, Gender, Natural ressources, Education, Development, Aid, Private sector, Funding

In contexts of insecurity, qualitative research requires constant "adaptations," encapsulated by the phrase "the field dictates." This article explores ethnographic approaches that diverge from traditional methods, drawing on collaborative research conducted in Niger's Liptako-Gourma region—a transborder area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and the epicenter of insecurity since 2015. Inspired by Michel de Certeau's concept of "tactics," the author employs "adaptation" to analyze practices in qualitative research under insecure conditions. Ethnographic constraints are viewed not as insurmountable obstacles but as opportunities to develop new methods while maintaining scientific rigor. These adaptations involve variations in usage and room for maneuver, influenced by the specific relationships between the researcher and the subject of study. The analysis of "ways of doing" encompasses both practical and ethical dimensions, as conducting research in insecure contexts leads to sensitive responses laden with emotions, discomfort, and empathy, which in turn influence knowledge production.

Knowlege production, Insécurité, Ethnography, Qualitative research