The article “Substantive democracy: an alternative for societies of resignation and silencing” examines democratic backsliding in West and Central Africa. Jean-Marc Segoun highlights “hybrid” regimes—whether civilian or military—sustaining power through gerontocracy, clientelism, militarization, and coercive use of law. These systems foster fear, resignation, and silence political opposition while curtailing fundamental freedoms. Recent examples include the dissolution of political parties in Mali, repression in Burkina Faso, civil rights restrictions in Côte d’Ivoire, and entrenched authoritarianism in Cameroon. The author argues that civil society must move beyond neutrality to become a political force proposing viable alternatives. This requires building networks, sharing practices, and inventing new paradigms suited to contexts of repression. “Substantive democracy” is proposed as a framework to resist authoritarianism, regenerate political thought, and offer pathways toward inclusive governance in societies where traditional democracy has been hollowed out.

Governance, Democracy, Civil Society

The Pastoral Surveillance Bulletin on Mali (No. 35, June-July 2025), published by Action Against Hunger, reports on pastoral resources and market dynamics in the regions of Timbuktu and Gao. Seasonal rains contributed to pasture regeneration and improved water availability, though access remains uneven and new shoots are often underutilized. Livestock body condition is mostly rated as fair, with suspected outbreaks of diseases such as peste des petits ruminants, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, and lumpy skin disease. Cattle theft was reported in 50% of monitoring sites, while insecurity remains high, especially in Gao. Markets are accessible, but terms of trade are still unfavorable to herders, despite a slight improvement (+14% increase in goat-to-millet exchange value). The report highlights the need for pasture rotation, stronger community veterinary networks, enhanced disease prevention, and improved conflict management.

Power, State, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Education, Gold, Human security, Marché

The Multisectoral Surveillance Bulletin for the regions of Timbuktu and Taoudénni (No. 13, June-July 2025), published by Action Against Hunger, provides updates on security, agriculture, pastoralism, and nutrition. Security incidents rose by 84%, reflecting continued armed group pressure. Early flooding of the Niger River raised concerns in riverside communities, while farming activities advanced with expanded rice and millet areas. Pasture conditions were rated from fair to poor, and livestock body conditions remained weak despite improved water access. Global acute malnutrition reached 9,177 cases in Timbuktu (+10%) and 787 in Taoudénni (down from previous months), driven by seasonal food shortages and disease. Malaria cases declined by 34% in Timbuktu but rose by 12% in Taoudénni. The report recommends strengthening access to agricultural inputs, animal vaccination, health prevention measures, and food assistance to displaced households.

State, Pastoralism, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Family, Gold, Human security, Health, Fishing

The working paper “Digitalisation and Governance in the Sahel”, authored by Mori Gouroubera and published in February 2025, examines the growing role of digital transformation in governance across Sahelian countries. The paper highlights the opportunities provided by digitization—such as increased transparency, administrative efficiency, and citizen participation—while also identifying key obstacles including insufficient digital infrastructure, the digital divide, weak institutional coordination, ethical concerns, and cybersecurity. It analyzes digital services in key sectors like health, agriculture, and public services, and envisions three future scenarios: inclusive digital governance, fragmented digitization, or digital regression. The author’s recommendations stress the importance of reinforcing regional cooperation, investing in infrastructure, training populations, diversifying funding, and ensuring data protection. This framework aims to inform policies that foster a sustainable, inclusive, and contextually relevant digital transformation in the Sahel.

Governance, Numérique, Cybersecurity

Over the past decade, more than 155,000 deaths have been attributed to militant Islamist groups in Africa. The **Sahel—especially Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—**has become the epicenter of this violence, with attacks surging since 2020. JNIM (linked to al-Qaeda) and ISGS (Islamic State in the Greater Sahara) dominate the region, expanding toward coastal West Africa. Burkina Faso accounts for more than half of recent fatalities, while Mali has suffered over 17,000 deaths since 2020. Niger, destabilized by the 2023 coup, has seen casualties quadruple. Somalia, with al-Shabaab, and the Lake Chad Basin (Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger) also remain deadly hotspots. The report highlights states’ territorial loss, with nearly 1 million km² outside government control, and forced displacement affecting over 3.5 million people. The data underscores the escalating lethality of militant Islamist groups and the urgent need for coordinated responses.

State, Natural ressources, Security, Peace, Political Violence, Gold, Human security, Violence, Threat, Civil Society

This briefing, authored by Thibaut Girault and Sophia Stille in June 2024 and published by the Mixed Migration Centre (read on WATHI), explores the educational realities and needs of migrant children and youth in four West and North African capitals – Bamako, Conakry, Niamey, and Tunis. Based on surveys conducted between June 2022 and September 2023 with migrant youth (18–24 years old) and caregivers, it reveals severely limited access to education: over half of children are not enrolled in any educational services (57%), and only 17% attend primary or secondary school. Education ranks as a top priority need, surpassing food aid (20%) and healthcare (18%). Key barriers include financial constraints (41%). The needs and situations differ by city: at least half of caregivers in Conakry reported educational needs for children, one third in Niamey, while in Tunis, there is notable reliance on informal childcare (32%).

Migration, Education, Youth, Human security

This article, published on August 17, 2025, in the Les Voix(es) de WATHI podcast series, discusses West Africa’s youth challenges, focusing on Senegal where half of the population will be under 25 by 2050. Confronted with barriers in education, employment, and civic participation, the Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal (CJS)—launched in 2020—brings together ten organizations to establish an enabling ecosystem for youth empowerment. It is founded on three pillars—Jang (learning), Bokk (inclusion), and Ligeey (employability)—and initiated the ambitious Yaakaar 2030 (“hope”) program in 2024, backed with nearly 12 billion CFA francs. Its two key components target youth civic engagement (5.2 billion CFA) and entrepreneurship (6.4 billion CFA). Digital platforms like Guichet Jeunesse and Edupop.sn provide centralized access to educational and opportunity resources. The initiative has already inspired similar youth consortiums in Benin and Mali.

Youth, EMPLOYMENT, Numérique, Inclusion

This Policy Brief examines the G5 Sahel (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger), which faces a “polycrisis” of institutional fragility, violent conflict, and climate change. Although the region contributes only 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is warming faster than the global average, worsening poverty, food insecurity, and competition over scarce resources. Rapid population growth and unplanned urbanization deepen social strains. Conflicts over land and water, combined with weak governance, fuel instability and large-scale displacement. The author highlights the need for sustained, multi-pronged action: strengthening local resilience, involving communities and indigenous groups, improving governance, and ensuring access to climate finance. The Sahel’s future hinges on coordinated approaches that balance development, peacebuilding, and climate adaptation

Migration, Climate change, Peace, Conflict, Crisis, Insécurité, Démographie, Inclusion

In 2023, Insecurity Insight documented 22 arson attacks on schools in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, with a sharp increase in Niger (1 in 2022 vs 11 in 2023). Most incidents, attributed to JNIM and ISSP, target “Western” education and aim to intimidate teachers and communities, leading to destroyed facilities, prolonged closures, and lasting fear. These attacks undermine access to education, worsen inequalities, and erode social cohesion. The report calls for integrated actions: community awareness campaigns, fire-resistant school infrastructure, emergency plans, coordinated rapid responses, psychological support, and post-attack reconstruction. It also urges humanitarian diplomacy and engagement with armed actors to protect schools and depoliticize education.

Governance, Security, Education