In this article, Dr. Idi Saidou Sani, a specialist in plant genetics and improvement and a lecturer-researcher at the University of Diffa in Niger, advocates for a significant increase in the budget allocated to research and higher education. He emphasizes that the current underfunding hampers the country's scientific and technological development, limiting its ability to address critical challenges such as food security, desertification, and climate change. The University of Diffa, established in 2014, plays a central role in education and research, with specialized units focusing on key areas for sustainable development. Dr. Sani stresses the need for increased investment to strengthen research capacities, promote innovation, and ensure sustainable socio-economic development in Niger and the Sahel region.

Governance, Politique publique, Funding, Scientific research, Sustainable development

In this article, Dr. Ahmed Mahmane Ahmadou Bachir, a pastoralism expert and lecturer-researcher at the Higher Institute of Environment and Ecology (IS2E) of the University of Diffa in Niger, highlights the lack of dedicated funding for research in Sahelian countries. He emphasizes the challenges faced by researchers, including insufficient resources to conduct studies on critical issues such as desertification, climate change, and sustainable natural resource management. Established in 2014, IS2E plays a vital role in training senior executives and specialized technicians in natural resource management. Dr. Bachir calls for a significant increase in research budgets to enable local institutions to develop solutions tailored to the realities of the Sahel.

Governance, Pastoralism, Environment, Funding, Scientific research

The article outlines the evolution of U.S. policy in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Sahel. Initially focused on diplomatic engagement during the Cold War, the policy shifted in the 1990s to address economic and security challenges. Initiatives like AGOA, PEPFAR, and Power Africa were introduced. Militarily, the establishment of AFRICOM in 2007 signaled a commitment to counterterrorism efforts. Programs such as the Pan-Sahelian Initiative aimed to strengthen the capacities of Sahelian countries. The article also highlights U.S.-France collaboration in counterterrorism, while advocating for greater transparency and a shift towards actions that promote socio-economic development.

Governance, Influence

In this article published by WATHI, Said Djinnit, Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, and El-Ghassim Wane emphasize the critical historical turning point Africa is facing amid global geopolitical shifts. Drawing inspiration from Salim Ahmed Salim’s visionary 1990 report, the authors call for a unified, strategic response. Despite significant political, legal, and economic frameworks (Agenda 2063, AfCFTA, peace and governance instruments), the gap between normative ambition and implementation remains troubling. The weakening of multilateralism, declining development aid, and Africa’s growing marginalization highlight the urgency of rethinking African political action around the effective execution of its commitments. The authors advocate for a new founding report—initiated by the African Union—that mobilizes all sectors of society and provides a clear, ambitious, and actionable vision for the continent’s future. The time for bold, unified leadership and concrete delivery is now.

Governance, International cooperation

The report “Armed Groups and the Conflict Economy in National Parks of Burkina Faso, Niger and Benin” examines the growing control of violent extremist groups (notably JNIM and ISSP) over the WAP complex (W, Arly, and Pendjari parks). These groups leverage illicit economies (smuggling, gold mining, poaching) and state absence to impose alternative governance through zakat and protection in exchange for access to natural resources. The report highlights long-standing local grievances, land disputes, weak state presence, and evolving intercommunal tensions. Armed groups use these dynamics to expand toward coastal countries. Relations between communities, park rangers, and the state are tense, often marked by abuse, mistrust, and violence. WAP thus becomes a strategic zone for consolidating armed control and illicit logistics. The report urges a coordinated response blending security, governance, and development strategies to address structural vulnerabilities.

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

The report “An Assessment of the Experiences and Vulnerabilities of Pastoralists and At-Risk Groups in the Atakora Department of Benin” explores the root causes of agro-pastoral conflicts and the recruitment strategies of violent extremist organizations (VEOs) in northern Benin. Conducted by Elva Community Engagement in 2022, the study reveals that land reforms, forced sedentarization, socio-political marginalization (particularly of Fulani groups), and intercommunal tensions have been exploited by groups such as JNIM and ISGS. Youth and women are especially vulnerable due to economic exclusion and restrictive social systems. The report also highlights weak local resilience mechanisms and the need for community-driven interventions. Despite rising insecurity, trust in state-led security efforts remains relatively high among local populations.

Gender, Security, Conflict, Political Violence, Education, Human security, Violence, Threat, Soicial sciences, Knowlege production

This multi-country study examines Education in Emergencies (EiE) across six Sahel countries facing security, humanitarian, and health crises. Based on document reviews and 209 field interviews, it highlights how displaced children face restricted access to quality education and a weakened educational system. EiE funding is inadequate, fragmented, and largely driven by humanitarian actors, with little institutional coordination. The study recommends leveraging best practices (multigrade teaching, e-learning), establishing national EiE coordination agencies, engaging local communities and diasporas through a Trust Fund, and scaling up the integrated territorial approach tested in Niger. Strengthening the capacity of both public and community actors is critical. The report calls for improved governance, structured financing mechanisms, and more systematic emergency education responses to ensure long-term educational resilience in crisis contexts.

Economic Development, Natural ressources, Education, Development, Gold, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Crisis, Funding

This report explores the rise, evolution, and fragmentation of armed extremist groups in the Sahel—AQIM, MUJAO, JNIM, and ISGS. It outlines the root causes of their proliferation: weak state presence, social marginalization, environmental pressures, geopolitical interference, and security vacuums. The analysis reveals how these groups adapt strategically, build local ties, and exploit state fragility. The fall of Libya, successive coups, and the withdrawal of international actors (France, the UN) have reshaped the security environment. The report advocates a multidimensional response: inclusive governance, socio-economic investment, stronger regional cooperation, and engagement of traditional leaders. It highlights the growing threat of violence spilling over into West African coastal states and calls for locally rooted, tailored strategies to achieve sustainable peace and resilience in the region.

Politics, Political party, Natural ressources, Security, Jihad, Terrorism, Political Violence, Gold, Violence, Threat

This report explores major geopolitical shifts in West Africa, notably the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS and the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). It highlights the erosion of trust in regional institutions, the increasing presence of external powers (Russia, China, Turkey), and the risk of renewed proxy conflicts. The author advocates for a more inclusive and responsive diplomacy focused on grassroots realities. The report calls for a reimagining of regional integration—one that strengthens civil society, local peacebuilding, and democratic governance. It insists on restoring citizen trust, shifting from punitive approaches to constructive dialogue, and embracing leadership rooted in local needs and values. Ultimately, it offers a vision for sustainable peace based on justice, inclusion, and community empowerment.

Governance, Civil Society