The article titled "One Year Later: The Sahel States Alliance Between Promises of Integration and Opportunism" examines the formation and evolution of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), established in September 2023 by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Initially designed as a mutual defense pact in response to ECOWAS's military intervention threats following the July 2023 coup in Niger, the AES quickly expanded its ambitions. By July 2024, the three countries announced the creation of a political and economic confederation, symbolizing their resistance to external, particularly Western, influences. This initiative raises questions about its viability and geopolitical implications, especially since similar regional cooperation efforts, such as the Liptako-Gourma Integrated Development Authority (ALG) in 1970 and the G5 Sahel in 2014, faced challenges related to funding and political rivalries. The article also highlights internal tensions and potential opportunistic motivations behind this alliance, questioning its solidity and future prospects.

Sovereignty, Governance

The research report “From “all security” to diplomatic dialogue: should we consider negotiated stability in the Sahel? » by Baba Dakono, published in January 2022 by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), examines the security situation in the Sahel, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. It highlights the ineffectiveness of military responses and the growing interest in negotiations with armed groups. The study highlights that fragile states in the region fail to integrate border zones into their national policies, which favors the rise of extremist groups. Despite international interventions (Barkhane, MINUSMA, G5 Sahel), violence persists and calls for political solutions are growing louder.Local dialogues already exist but remain limited due to a centralized approach. The study recommends a holistic dialogue approach, involving all stakeholders, to achieve lasting peace.

Natural ressources, Security, Peace, Political Violence, Mediation, Human security, Violence, Threat, Dialogue

The article analyzes health systems in West Africa and proposes actions to improve their efficiency. He noted the progress made, although hampered by conflicts and health crises like Ebola. States are struggling to finance their health systems, leading to inequalities in access to care. WATHI recommends five areas of action: strengthening prevention, training and better distributing health professionals, improving sector financing, optimizing the daily management of health infrastructures and developing research and regional cooperation. Emphasis is placed on the need for citizen and political commitment for sustainable reforms, taking into account the limited resources of the countries concerned.

Politics, Political party, State, Natural ressources, Education, Health, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production

The article analyzes health systems in West Africa and proposes actions to improve their efficiency. He noted the progress made, although hampered by conflicts and health crises like Ebola. States are struggling to finance their health systems, leading to inequalities in access to care. WATHI recommends five areas of action: strengthening prevention, training and better distributing health professionals, improving sector financing, optimizing the daily management of health infrastructures and developing research and regional cooperation. Emphasis is placed on the need for citizen and political commitment for sustainable reforms, taking into account the limited resources of the countries concerned.

State, Economic Development, Inequality, Religious education, Education, Development, Discrimination, Soicial sciences, Knowlege production, EMPLOYMENT

On January 25, 2024, the military authorities of Mali announced the end of the Algiers Agreement, signed in 2015 with armed groups in the North, notably the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA). This agreement aimed to pacify the country through increased decentralization and the integration of ex-rebels into the army. However, its implementation has been slow and incomplete, with only 30% of the provisions applied in 2022. The breakdown of the agreement risks worsening the security crisis in Mali, where clashes between the army and armed groups are intensifying. Algeria, the main mediator, is accused of hostility, while the international community struggles to play its role as guarantor. Tensions between armed groups and the ruling junta could lead to an escalation of violence and endanger the stability of the region.

Governance, Security

The article highlights the alarming humanitarian crisis plaguing West Africa, notably in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where armed groups are carrying out violent attacks, forcing thousands of people to flee. These attacks have led to massacres, destruction and massive displacement, worsening an already fragile situation due to climate change and food insecurity. Since March 2024, more than 67,000 Burkinabè have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Mali, Togo, Ivory Coast and Ghana. As of August 2024, 5.45 million people were displaced in the Sahel region. The article also discusses the devastating impact of floods in Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, which are making access to essential resources even more difficult. The situation of refugees and internally displaced people remains critical.

Climate change, Violence, Crise humanitaire, Food insecurity

The article entitled “Being a girl and disabled in West Africa: The educational situation in question – Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso” by Danielle TAN, published by Handicap International in 2020, examines the educational challenges faced by girls with disabilities in these countries. He emphasizes that the absence of precise data on disability hinders the implementation of adapted educational responses. Estimates indicate that around 40% of children with disabilities are out of primary school and 55% are out of lower secondary school in low-income countries. The literacy rate for adults with disabilities is 3%, and only 1% for women. In Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, less than 5% of children with disabilities are enrolled in primary school. Specialized structures, often located in large cities, are insufficient and expensive. In Burkina Faso, pioneering organizations have been working for inclusive education since the 1970s, but a lack of funding limits the scale of their projects. Since 2007, these countries have gradually developed inclusive education strategies, but the challenges remain numerous, particularly due to an often medical approach to disability and a lack of concrete inclusive educational policies.

Gender, Women, Disability

The article entitled “Revealing social vulnerability profiles for the management of urban floods: the case of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)”, written by Mwingnè Laure Carolle Da, Hugues Hangnon, Marion Amalric, Aude Nikiema, Élodie Robert and Emmanuel Bonnet, was published in 2022 in Cybergeo: European Review of Geography. It analyzes the vulnerability of the inhabitants of Ouagadougou to flooding as part of phase 2 of the Raincell Africa project. A socio-demographic survey carried out among 2,137 households made it possible, thanks to statistical analyses, to identify eight vulnerability profiles. The results indicate that the peripheral areas of the city, characterized by informal settlements, are the most vulnerable. This increased exposure is linked to sociodemographic factors such as education level, risky urbanization behaviors and poor perception of danger. These elements are crucial for improving urban flood management.

Vulnerability, Urbanisation, Floods