The article examines the resurgence of the Boko Haram conflict in Cameroon’s Far North region, despite governmental and regional cooperation efforts. It outlines the group’s historical penetration and expansion since 2009–2014 in the border area with Nigeria, describes the evolving tactics (guerrilla warfare, suicide bombings, improvised explosive devices, kidnappings), and highlights its embedding within informal networks and smuggling routes. The socio-economic toll is severe: disruption of agriculture and trade, population displacement, abandonment of schools and health centers, and rising intercommunity tensions. The authors warn that the conflict could endure: overcrowded prisons, the politicization or transformation of vigilance committees into militias, and continuous influxes of Nigerian refugees pose real threats to regional stability. Their recommendations focus on improving governance, strengthening cross-border cooperation, enhancing local resilience, and pursuing de-escalation strategies in the security domain.

Politics, Governance, Boundary, Security, Radicalisation

The article examines Cameroon’s 2025 presidential election scheduled for October 12, with Paul Biya – aged 92 and long-time incumbent – running for an eighth consecutive term. It highlights a tightly controlled political system in which the ruling party (RDPC) dominates state institutions including the electoral commission and judiciary. The opposition is deeply fragmented and weakened by internal divisions and personal rivalries, making it difficult to present a credible alternative. Security issues constitute a significant challenge: the anglophone crisis in the North West and South West (NOSO) regions undermines electoral conditions, while Boko Haram’s attacks in the far north complicate voting access, particularly for displaced populations. The article warns that the electoral process could be undermined by these political and security pressures.

Politics, Political party, Governance, Election

The article analyzes the pressures and challenges facing Côte d’Ivoire’s security sector in the post-conflict period, tracing the transition from state withdrawal toward renewed state control over security. It points out that while the “return of the State” was prioritized, the Security Sector Reform (SSR) reflects a significant gap between formal policies and real practices, since power dynamics continue to shape outcomes. The 2017 mutinies (in January and May) served as a catalyst for accelerated reforms, but questions remain about their sustainability. The army continues to be affected by extractive practices, militaro-economic networks, and insubordination, particularly among integrated ex-rebels. The article argues for viewing reforms politically rather than purely technically, stressing the need to build trust with communities, strengthen civil oversight, and responsibly integrate former combatants into institutional frameworks.

Governance, Security, Institution, Réforme, Groupes armés

The article examines the rise of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cabo Verde, in connection with the rapid expansion of mobile Internet access. It points out that youths aged 13 to 24 account for a significant share of users on digital platforms, thus increasing their exposure to risks. In Côte d’Ivoire, approximately 21,000 incidents were reported annually between 2019 and 2022, with criminal networks professionalizing techniques such as sextortion, blackmail, and non-consensual dissemination of content. National legal frameworks across the three countries show gaps: certain forms of OCSEA are not criminalized and legal definitions lack harmonization. The report also underscores institutional weaknesses, underreporting of cases, limited coordination, and the constrained capacities of law enforcement. It offers recommendations across multiple levels ECOWAS, member states, law enforcement, tech sector, and NGOs to strengthen prevention, legal response, and victim protection.

Security, Justice, Vulnerability, Enfant, Protection

The 2020 Human Rights Watch report on Côte d’Ivoire highlights economic growth in 2019 but criticizes the government’s failure to address the root causes of past political violence — notably entrenched impunity, judicial politicization, and enduring ethnic tensions. The ICC’s acquittal of Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Blé Goudé, coupled with stalled domestic prosecutions, reinforced a climate of impunity. Legal reforms—such as the criminalization of torture, reduced pretrial detention, and gender equality measures—were welcomed, yet some provisions threaten freedoms of expression and assembly. Security forces’ excessive use of force against protesters and arbitrary arrests raised further concern. The report urges impartial justice, deeper security sector reform, and greater protection of fundamental freedoms ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

Governance, Justice, Liberté, Impunity, Law

This podcast episode highlights the critical role of think tanks, research centers, and universities as foundational institutions for producing and disseminating credible knowledge amid a world of confusion, polarization, and crises of meaning. These institutions are portrayed as essential in providing factual data, crafting alternative scenarios, mediating between scholarship and public policy, and strengthening democratic debate. At a 10-year anniversary conference in Dakar, speaker Cheikh Gueye showcased how think tanks like IPAR in Senegal have impacted public policies—such as agricultural subsidy reform—through rigorous analysis. The discussion also covered the relationship between academia, research institutions, and decision-makers, as well as the importance of women in knowledge-production spaces. The episode emphasizes that in times of leadership crisis globally, research and enlightened reasoning are more indispensable than ever.

Governance, Knowlege production, Institution, Scientific research

This article analyzes the psychological, social, and cultural determinants that underpin the normalization and institutionalization of corruption in Côte d’Ivoire. It argues that corruption is not merely the consequence of institutional weaknesses, but is sustained by cultural logics: a redistribution logic of acquired wealth, which motivates influential actors to share benefits with their kin; a logic of lucrative positions, where public offices are viewed as profit-making opportunities; and social learning of corruption, whereby individuals mimic corrupt behaviors observed among superiors. The paper also discusses the notion of imitative resourcefulness, in which people replicate corruption practices perceived as normal in the system. Based on qualitative interviews with civil servants, the study reveals that for many, corruption has become a routine part of state functioning.

Bribery, Governance, Social, Institution

The article “Cameroon: Calming Water-Related Struggles in the Far North” (International Crisis Group, April 2024) examines how climate change, recurrent droughts, and demographic pressure intensify tensions among communities (herders, fishermen, farmers) in Cameroon’s Far North region. In 2021, several deadly clashes occurred over contested water access points. The report calls for stronger local water governance mechanisms, promotion of co-management agreements, investment in water infrastructure, and improved intercommunity dialogue. It emphasizes the need for an inclusive approach that addresses climate vulnerabilities and social inequalities to prevent escalating violence.

Governance, Climate change, Security, Conflict, Terrorism, water

The article examines environmental degradation in Douala, Cameroon’s main industrial hub, where poor waste management, weak environmental policies, and ineffective decentralization exacerbate social and health risks. Industrial zones such as Logbaba and Bonassama discharge untreated waste and effluents without adequate control, while local councils, legally responsible for environmental oversight, are hindered by contradictory regulations. The study highlights the “failure of corporate social responsibility” and the lack of local ownership of environmental governance. It calls for genuine decentralization, better institutional coordination, and stronger accountability for industrial actors. The case of Douala demonstrates the urgent need for participatory environmental management and effective implementation of CSR principles to balance industrial development with urban sustainability.

Governance, Environment, Decentralization, Hygiène, Pollution