This bulletin, published by Action Against Hunger (ACF) in May 2025, presents monitoring data from 64 microenterprises supported in Bassikounou, Mauritania. The report highlights the continued economic vulnerability of households, despite support for income-generating activities (IGAs). Average monthly income remains low (27,540 MRU) and unstable, particularly for women (22,250 MRU). Households face heavy expenses for health, food, and education, with limited savings capacity and weak income diversification. The report also notes the negative impact of climate shocks on economic activities. While beneficiaries acknowledge positive effects from the program, their prospects remain precarious without structural support, enhanced market access, training, and financing opportunities.

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

The pastoral surveillance bulletin published by Action Against Hunger (ACF) covers April to May 2025 in eight departments of Niger (regions of Tahoua, Tillabéri, Maradi, and Diffa). It aims to monitor pastoral conditions and guide humanitarian action. The report highlights early vegetation degradation in certain areas, unusually low water point levels, and a decline in livestock body condition. Security challenges persist, restricting access to grazing zones. Market access is also disrupted, impacting both livestock and food prices. The bulletin calls for urgent support in livestock feed distribution, secure access to natural resources, and strengthening pastoral resilience strategies.

State, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Gold, Human security, Researh, Information, Marché

Published on July 7, 2025 by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Paul Nantulya’s article explores the declining appeal of China’s transactional diplomacy in Africa, based on economic deals devoid of political conditions. This model now faces mounting criticism in several African countries. In Ghana, civil society organizations denounce environmental harm and opaque mining projects. In Sierra Leone, Chinese mining contracts are increasingly questioned. In Nigeria, despite strong bilateral ties, concerns grow about trade imbalances. In Senegal, tensions emerge around Chinese port infrastructure. These cases reveal a growing disillusionment in West Africa, where citizens demand more transparency, fairer deals, and local benefits. The author urges a restructuring of China-Africa partnerships to focus on good governance and African-led development priorities.

Politics, Political party, State, Natural ressources, Security, Peace, Justice, Mediation, Gold, Dialogue, Diplomacy

The WATHI podcast discusses a UNDP report highlighting an unprecedented slowdown in human development progress since 2020, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. It points out that only two African countries—the Seychelles and Mauritius—rank in the very high Human Development Index (HDI) category, while eight others (Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Gabon, Botswana, Libya, and Morocco) fall into the high HDI group. Meanwhile, 22 African nations are in the low HDI category, with Chad, the Central African Republic, Somalia, and South Sudan at the very bottom. The podcast also considers the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in this context: a potential driver of progress, yet part of a complex debate on whether it can help reverse the current slowdown.

Inequality, Education, Politique publique, Intelligence artificielle, Human Development Index

In this article, Paul Nantulya examines China’s growing security footprint in Africa, reflecting the Communist Party’s global ambitions. Through the 2025–2027 FOCAC action plan, Beijing expands military cooperation: training programs, joint drills, arms exports, and infrastructure support. Countries such as Tanzania, Senegal, Kenya, and Namibia are central partners. While China offers affordable weaponry and avoids political conditionality, its governance model—focused on regime stability—raises concerns. Chinese arms have ended up in the hands of militants, and surveillance technology is often used to suppress political dissent. Though many African governments see Chinese support as strategic, civil societies fear increased authoritarian tendencies. China's security engagement is expected to continue growing, underscoring the need for transparency, stronger export controls, and civic oversight to ensure it aligns with citizens’ interests.

Politics, Political party, State, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Gold, Military activity, Human security, Information

This ACF bulletin assesses the multisectoral situation in the regions of Timbuktu and Taoudénit (Mali) from April to May 2025. It highlights a marked deterioration in food security, driven by ongoing insecurity, population displacement, rising food prices, and low agricultural production. The report also signals increasing water stress, rising cases of acute malnutrition, reduced access to healthcare and education services, and violations of the basic rights of displaced populations. Despite ongoing humanitarian responses, needs remain critical, particularly in the Goundam and Gourma-Rharous districts. The bulletin calls for intensified interventions in food security, health/nutrition, water-sanitation-hygiene (WASH), and protection, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

State, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Gold, Human security, Fishing, Insécurité, Marché

The April–May 2025 pastoral surveillance bulletin (No. 40), published by Action Against Hunger and the Billital Maroobé Network, assesses the pastoral situation in Senegal. It highlights north-to-south transhumance movements, with herds arriving from Mauritania and leaving toward Mali. Although vegetation cover is generally adequate, notable deficits persist in northern regions. Water resources are largely sufficient but rely heavily on boreholes. Animal diseases, livestock theft, and conflicts between herders and farmers are reported. On markets, male cattle prices rose significantly, and rice prices remained high compared to the five-year average. The bulletin urges strengthened pastoral infrastructure, conflict resolution training, and support to local transhumance committees to manage regional vulnerabilities and ensure resource access and livestock security during the pastoral lean season.

State, Pastoralism, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Gold, Human security, Soicial sciences, Information

This podcast by WATHI, released on June 29, 2025, reflects on the Second African Democracy Assembly held in Dakar by the Innovation Foundation for Democracy, chaired by Achille Mbembé. The speaker advocates for a substantive democracy rooted in civic engagement, inclusive dialogue, social justice, and national cohesion—beyond mere elections. Using Senegal’s recent political dialogue as a case study, the episode emphasizes the democratic value of public participation in institutional reform. Drawing from Afrobarometer and V-Dem data, the podcast warns of growing authoritarianism globally and in Africa. It calls for the strategic, sovereign use of external aid, the empowerment of youth and civil society, and the formation of pragmatic alliances to build resilient democratic systems anchored in African realities.

Sovereignty, Governance, Democracy, Election, Civil Society

The article, published by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies on February 3, 2024, assesses the failure of Mali's promised democratic transition under the military junta that seized power in August 2020. The junta has repeatedly postponed elections and adopted a new constitution that consolidates power in the hands of Colonel Assimi Goïta. Security and economic conditions have worsened, with Islamist violence surging and poverty increasing. The withdrawal from ECOWAS, the G5 Sahel, and MINUSMA has left Mali isolated. Freedoms have shrunk, justice has been obstructed, and Russian mercenaries — implicated in serious human rights abuses — have been brought in. The article argues that the junta has broken its commitments to both citizens and international partners, rendering the concept of a “transition” meaningless.

State, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Political Violence, Election, Gold, Poverty, Human security, Threat, Politique publique, Transition, Services publics