This article analyses the Sahel crisis through the prism of young people, with reference to the case of Burkina Faso. In particular, it looks at the ways in which young people are involved in shaping and implementing security policies. The aim is to elucidate why, despite their political weight, young people are not yet strategic actors in the governance of this sovereign sector. Based on actor-centred institutionalism, the article highlights the influence of contexts and institutions on their participation strategies in the fight against insecurity. The results show that while government mechanisms for the inclusion of young people produce precarious effects, the alternative strategies promoted by the latter end in deadlock.

Security, Youth, Politique publique

The article “Strategies for resilience among young people in Burkina Faso: How do they resist the temptations of violence?” explores the mechanisms by which young Burkinabe avoid succumbing to violence, despite contexts of social exclusion and injustice. Based on a survey conducted in 2018 by the Institute for Governance and Development (IGD), in collaboration with the Catholic University of Bukavu and the Research and Information Group on Peace and Security (GRIP), the study highlights the coping strategies developed by these young people. These strategies include engagement in socio-cultural activities, using social networks to express their concerns, and participating in civic training aimed at strengthening their resilience capacities. The objective is to understand how these mechanisms can be supported and strengthened to prevent young people from engaging in violent acts.

Youth, Violence

The article analyzes the impacts of the withdrawal of international forces and aid in the Sahel, exacerbating an already severe security and humanitarian crisis. Extremist insurgents are proliferating, leading to mass displacement and a breakdown in essential services. Agriculture, the region’s economic mainstay, is being destabilized by climate change and restrictions by armed groups, deepening poverty and fueling local conflicts. Young people, without prospects, are becoming vulnerable to recruitment by dangerous armed groups or migrants. The article calls for local approaches to peacebuilding, integrating women and youth into natural resource management and conflict resolution, to strengthen community resilience.

Security, Peace, Conflict, Extremism, Poverty, Women

A preliminary study conducted by the Timbuktu Institute, in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, examines the role of women in preventing and combating violent extremism in Mali. Carried out in Bamako during November and December 2016, this research highlights that women are both major victims and potential key actors in this context. They suffer from abuses such as forced marriages, rapes, and abductions, while being at the forefront of detecting signs of radicalization within their families and communities. However, their involvement in conflict prevention and resolution processes remains limited. The study identifies socioeconomic factors (poverty, unemployment, illiteracy) and religious influences as drivers of radicalization. It recommends expanding research to other regions of Mali, strengthening the capacities of state and civil society actors, and increasing the involvement of religious leaders and women in promoting peace and combating violent extremism.

Peace, Conflict, Jihad, Extremism, Women, Violence

This study examines the role of religious actors in Senegal's electoral landscape, focusing on the interplay between religion and politics in a culturally diverse context. Religious leaders, influential figures in Senegal, serve multiple roles: mediators during crises, sources of electoral mobilization, and sometimes controversial actors in political and social spheres. The study highlights complex dynamics between tradition and modernity, with young people expressing mixed trust in religious leaders. It also underscores the growing importance of digital media in conveying religious and political messages and explores perceptions across coastal and border areas. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, the study offers insights into the sustainability of religious influence within an evolving sociopolitical environment.

Political Power, Religion, Influence

The report by the Tombouctou Institute, in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, examines the role of religious actors in the Senegalese electoral process. Historically, these figures have contributed to political stability, particularly during recent crises. However, their influence on current electoral choices is questioned, especially with the rise of social networks and the evolution of relations between religious leaders and young people. The study, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, reveals that while the Senegalese confer the peacemaking role of religious leaders, they are increasingly skeptical about their direct impact on electoral decisions. Young people, in particular, question the credibility of political instructions emanating from religious leaders, preferring neutral mediation promoting dialogue and transparency in the electoral process.

Youth, Mediation, Election, Réseaux sociaux

The International Crisis Group’s article “Reordering Sahel Stabilization Strategies” analyzes the limitations of current approaches to the growing insecurity in the Sahel region. It highlights that strategies focused on the security-development nexus, as well as state capacity building, are failing to stem the violence. The article calls for a revision of these strategies, with an emphasis on political dialogue, governance reform, and better coordination of military efforts with renewed political initiatives. It also calls for increased involvement of local actors and adaptation of interventions to the specific realities of each country concerned.

Politics, Dialogue, Réforme

The Crisis Group article examines the expansion of jihadist groups from the Sahel to coastal countries in West Africa, notably Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo. Taking advantage of security weaknesses and porous borders, these groups are extending their influence, threatening regional stability. The states concerned are struggling to coordinate an effective response to this growing threat. The article highlights the importance of strengthened regional cooperation and increased attention to local socio-economic factors to counter this jihadist advance.

Security, Jihad, Instabilité

The International Crisis Group’s “Containing the Jihadist Insurgency in West Africa’s W Park” examines the growing influence of jihadist groups in W Park, a cross-border nature reserve between Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These groups are exploiting local tensions over access to natural resources and intercommunal conflicts to strengthen their presence. The article emphasizes that purely military strategies are insufficient to counter this threat. It advocates an integrated approach combining security, socio-economic development, and dialogue with local communities to restore peace and protect the park’s biodiversity.

Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Jihad, Threat