The article “Security from Below: Citizen Perceptions and Perspectives on Security Challenges in Burkina Faso”, authored by Sylvie Ayimpam, examines citizens' perceptions of insecurity in Burkina Faso. Instead of focusing on institutional approaches, the article highlights local experiences in rural and urban communities. The fall of Blaise Compaoré’s regime marked the beginning of greater instability, including terrorism, economic violence, and widespread banditry. Citizen initiatives, such as self-defense groups, have emerged as a response to the perceived ineffectiveness of security forces. Women also play an active role despite being particularly vulnerable. The article underscores the resilience of communities in the face of multiple crises while critiquing the lack of a robust conceptual framework to analyze insecurity.

Politics, Political party, Natural ressources, Security, Political Violence, Human security, Violence, Threat, Insécurité

The article "War in the Sahel: Is Peace Impossible?" by Rodrigue Nana Ngassam, published in Diplomatie (March-April 2024), examines the critical security situation in the Sahel. Since 2012, the region has faced escalating violence driven by Islamist terrorism, military coups, and ineffective international intervention. Sahelian states, weakened by poor governance and internal conflicts, struggle to maintain authority over their territories. Russia, through the Wagner Group, has increased its presence, fueling anti-Western sentiment and intensifying tensions. The article emphasizes the need for solutions tailored to local realities to break the cycle of violence, avoiding the simple replacement of one foreign power with another. The author advocates for a rethinking of security approaches that integrate African perspectives and credible international cooperation.

Politics, Political party, State, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Political Violence, Violence, Threat

This article investigates the violence experienced by female artisanal miners in Yagha Province, Burkina Faso, between 2003 and 2015. Using a qualitative approach (interviews and document analysis), the study identifies two main types of violence: physical and moral (body searches, sexual harassment) and economic (mineral confiscation, imposed prices). Findings reveal that privatization and weak regulation of the mining sector facilitate these abuses, worsening the precariousness of female miners and their economic exclusion. In response, women have engaged in collective actions to confront these injustices. The article calls for inclusive policies that consider their experiences to foster socially sustainable artisanal mining practices.

Politics, Political party, Gender, Natural ressources, Justice, Political Violence, Social, Violence, Threat

This book delves into the insecurities and violence in the Lake Chad Basin, exploring historical, social, and political dimensions. Focusing on five key countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Niger, Nigeria, Chad), it examines the effects of conflicts such as those driven by Boko Haram and intercommunal tensions on local societies. Through interdisciplinary studies, it highlights the diversity of insecurities, ranging from daily violence to armed conflicts, while analyzing their economic, political, and environmental causes. The book also discusses strategies to combat these insecurities, whether military, political, or development-based. It provides an in-depth understanding of local dynamics and the lived experiences of affected populations, linking these phenomena to broader global issues.

Politics, Political party, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Political Violence, Human security, Violence, Threat