The paper examines the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the Western Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, highlighting an average GDP contraction of 2.6% in 2020 for the seven countries studied, due to the decline in foreign trade and investment. The agriculture, telecommunications and electricity sectors have been more resilient, thanks in part to subsidies. The pandemic has exacerbated poverty, inequality and difficulties in accessing health care, particularly due to income loss and school closures, affecting children’s educational outcomes. Response measures, such as border closures and curfews, have directly impacted livelihoods, fuelling social tensions. The paper recommends strengthening national development plans, investing in local agricultural production and improving social protection mechanisms to promote an inclusive and resilient future in the region.

Economic Development, Poverty, Crisis

Crisis Group’s article “Central Sahel: At the Eye of the Storm” analyses the multidimensional crisis in the Central Sahel, spanning Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The region is facing a combination of armed conflict, political instability, humanitarian crises and environmental challenges. Violence by jihadist groups and inter-communal tensions have led to massive population displacement, exacerbating an already precarious humanitarian situation. Local governments, often fragile, are struggling to restore security and provide basic services, while international interventions have yet to provide sustainable solutions. The article highlights the urgent need for an integrated approach, combining security efforts, economic development and political dialogue, to sustainably stabilise the region.

Conflict, Jihad, Violence, Crisis, Insécurité

The multiple crises in the Sahel – armed conflict, political instability and climate change – particularly characterize women and girls. They are exposed to sexual violence, forced marriage and exploitation. Insecurity has displaced millions of people, including 78% of women and children in 2021, disrupting their access to education and essential services, and reinforcing traditional roles that limit their opportunities. In Mali, crises are exacerbating conservative social realities. Sexual violence, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation are commonplace, causing deep trauma. Access to health care, including maternal and reproductive health services, is limited. In 2022, 1,726 schools were closed, depriving 517,800 children of school, with girls particularly affected. Rural women, who are responsible for food security, are directly impacted by the impacts of climate change on their daily lives.Recommendations include gender-sensitive responses, improving women’s access to education and economic resources to strengthen their resilience. Supporting their active participation in crisis resolution and community well-being efforts is essential. Despite challenges, women demonstrate remarkable resilience, which is essential for a safer and more prosperous future.Recommendations include gender-sensitive responses, improving women’s access to education and economic resources to strengthen their resilience. Supporting their active participation in crisis resolution and community well-being efforts is essential. Despite challenges, women demonstrate remarkable resilience, which is essential for a safer and more prosperous future.

Education, Women, Vulnerability, Discrimination, Crisis

Burkina Faso is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, marked by growing insecurity and massive population displacement. In 2018, attacks by armed groups, particularly in the Sahel, Centre-North, East and North regions, forced more than two million people to flee their homes, seeking refuge in safer areas. This situation exacerbates tensions between communities, particularly between herders and farmers, and puts additional pressure on natural resources already weakened by climate change. Basic infrastructure, such as health centres and schools, are often targeted, limiting access to essential services for displaced populations. Despite the efforts of the authorities and humanitarian organisations, assistance remains insufficient given the scale of the needs, and insecurity hinders access to some affected areas.

Governance, Agriculture, Livestock, Security, Violence, Crisis, Déplacement forcé

The article explores the evolution of popular protest movements in Senegal, a country marked by a tradition of social mobilizations. Since independence, major protests, such as those of May 1968, have involved young people and unions. The political changeover in 2000 aroused disappointed expectations, leading to movements such as the 2002 demonstrations in Kolda and those of 2008 linked to power cuts. The article highlights the "Y'en a marre" and "M23" movements of 2011, which mobilized young people to contest the controversial candidacy of Abdoulaye Wade for a third term. These spontaneous movements show a youth organized to influence political decisions.

Political Power, Governance, Youth, Crisis

This article examines the impact of climate change and population displacement on the environment in the Hodh Chargui region of southeastern Mauritania. The Sahel, including Mauritania, is particularly vulnerable to global warming, with a projected temperature increase of 3°C by 2050, leading to desertification, drought, crop degradation, and soil erosion. The prolonged presence of refugees in the Mbera camp increases pressure on local resources such as water, fuelwood, and grazing land, creating potential tensions with host communities. In response, the Mauritanian government and its partners, including UNHCR, have incorporated environmental preservation into their strategies, notably through the National Strategy for the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Regional Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity (SCAPP/SCRAPP). Reforestation initiatives have been implemented since 2016, with thousands of trees planted in and around the Mbera camp, thanks to collaboration between UNHCR, SOS Desert, RET-Germany, and local communities

Climate change, Environment, refugee, Crisis

WATHI's article analyzes the growing threat of regional disintegration in West Africa, exacerbated by multiple crises: insecurity, political instability, armed conflicts, and socio-economic challenges. Factors such as the military coup in several countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger), the rise of jihadist armed groups, and tensions between local communities are worsening regional fragility. These dynamics threaten state cohesion and regional integration efforts. Faced with this critical situation, the article calls for urgent collective action, focused on restoring democratic governance, strengthening local institutions, and promoting inclusive development policies. It emphasizes the importance of African solutions, driven by responsible states and committed populations, to avoid total fragmentation. Resignation is rejected in favor of a proactive approach to building a stable future

Inequality, Conflict, Crisis management, Jihad, Poverty, Social cohesion, Crisis, Institution

The World Bank’s June 2022 report on the G5 Sahel (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger) highlights that these economically fragile countries face challenges such as political instability, growing insecurity, uncontrolled urbanization, declining agricultural productivity, and a food crisis affecting millions of people. Climate change is exacerbating these vulnerabilities, increasing migration and social exclusion. However, the region has untapped assets, including a growing young population and renewable energy resources. Smart climate investments and strengthening policies and institutions could improve resilience to the impacts of climate change and avoid carbon-intensive growth. A stronger state presence is crucial to improve the quality of services, especially in the post-COVID context and in the face of supply chain disruptions due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. A green and resilient Sahel requires accumulated commitment from states at all levels

Governance, Agriculture, Food security, Urbanisation, Crisis, Insécurité

The National Strategy for Enrolling Students in High-Security-Risk Zones (SSEZDS) 2019–2024 aims to guarantee a safe and inclusive educational environment in conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso. Led by the Ministry of National Education, Literacy, and National Languages, the strategy is grounded in INEE standards and the national constitution to ensure uninterrupted basic education. Facing significant demographic growth and frequent armed attacks, the approach is structured around three pillars: securing schools (fencing, guards, crisis management units), reopening schools in liberated regions, and strengthening the education system's resilience (training, survival kits, emergency plans). It involves coordination between state entities, local governments, NGOs, and teacher unions, using a robust M&E framework with performance indicators to assess progress through 2024.

Governance, Security, Education, Crisis