The article “Regional Cooperation and Maritime Governance in the Gulf of Guinea: A Critical Analysis” by René Ngek Monteh (University of Yaounde I) explores the dynamics of maritime governance and regional cooperation across the Gulf of Guinea, from Senegal to Angola. Despite multiple international efforts (UN, EU, ECOWAS, ECCAS, MOWCA), the region remains plagued by piracy, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and corruption. Monteh highlights weak institutions, poor coordination, and mistrust among states as major obstacles to effective maritime governance. He advocates for integrated regional frameworks, institutional capacity building, and political reforms to ensure sustainable resource use and enhanced maritime security. The paper argues that peace at sea depends on stability on land, urging stronger collaboration between states, regional organizations, and international partners to achieve sustainable peace and a resilient blue economy.

State, Governance, Security, Peace, Justice, Conflict, Human security, Cooperation, Threat, Knowlege production

The article Managing Election Violence and Sustaining Peace and Security in West Africa, authored by Professor Charles Ukeje and Dr. Wale Olusola, explores the persistent issue of electoral violence and its impact on peace and democratic consolidation in West Africa. Published in November 2023 by the Building Blocks for Peace Foundation (BBFORPEACE) and GPPAC West Africa, the paper argues that elections—meant to strengthen democracy—often fuel insecurity. It highlights both structural (poverty, unemployment, exclusion) and immediate (hate speech, manipulation, external influence) causes of electoral violence. The authors recommend returning to civilian rule, promoting peace education, reforming political parties, and enhancing collaboration among ECOWAS, civil society, and development partners. The report underscores that inclusive and peaceful elections are essential to sustaining regional stability and democratic governance.

Gender, Security, Peace, Justice, Conflict, Political Violence, Election, Human security, Violence, Threat

This podcast episode highlights the critical role of think tanks, research centers, and universities as foundational institutions for producing and disseminating credible knowledge amid a world of confusion, polarization, and crises of meaning. These institutions are portrayed as essential in providing factual data, crafting alternative scenarios, mediating between scholarship and public policy, and strengthening democratic debate. At a 10-year anniversary conference in Dakar, speaker Cheikh Gueye showcased how think tanks like IPAR in Senegal have impacted public policies—such as agricultural subsidy reform—through rigorous analysis. The discussion also covered the relationship between academia, research institutions, and decision-makers, as well as the importance of women in knowledge-production spaces. The episode emphasizes that in times of leadership crisis globally, research and enlightened reasoning are more indispensable than ever.

Governance, Knowlege production, Institution, Scientific research

This article introduces an open-access and highly detailed dataset on temporary migration in Senegal, derived from mobile phone data collected by the operator Sonatel between 2013 and 2015. It provides measures of migration flows and stocks across 151 locations every half-month, focusing on movements lasting between 20 and 180 days. By overcoming the limitations of conventional surveys, the authors present an algorithmic framework that detects migration events from digital traces and distinguishes between daily, temporary, and permanent mobility. The dataset, methodologically validated, represents a unique resource for scholars and policymakers to analyze internal mobility patterns, resilience to economic or climatic shocks, and regional planning dynamics. This approach also offers a scalable model for migration statistics generation in other developing contexts.

Migration, Conflict, Education, Election, Threat, Urbanisation, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Information

The 2025 Mid-Season Regional Biomass Bulletin by Action Against Hunger (ACF) provides an overview of agro-environmental conditions across the Sahel and West Africa. It reports that overall biomass production is average to good, except in specific zones of Mali, Niger, Chad, and northern Burkina Faso where vegetation remains below normal. Irregular rainfall and uneven temporal distribution have delayed the agricultural season in several pastoral regions, affecting pasture regeneration and water availability for livestock. The bulletin warns of potential rapid degradation of natural resources and emphasizes the need for continuous agro-pastoral monitoring through the end of the season to prevent food and livelihood crises.

Economic Development, Pastoralism, Natural ressources, Security, Development, Gold, Poverty, Human security, Vulnerability, Researh, Knowlege production

The article “Challenges to Girls’ Education: Menstrual Precarity in Schools,” published by WATHI, examines how difficulties in managing menstruation in school settings significantly hinder girls’ access to education. It highlights that many girls lack the means to purchase sanitary products or do not have access to adequate school sanitation facilities, resulting in absences during menstrual periods—thereby undermining their continuity in schooling and academic performance. The article also emphasizes cultural stigmas and taboos associated with menstruation that further exclude girls from participating fully in school life. To address these barriers, the article recommends implementing awareness programs, ensuring the provision of hygiene facilities in schools, and integrating menstrual issues into education and gender policies.

Gender, Poverty, Women, Health, Hygiène

This Policy Brief examines the Sahel’s complex crisis, rooted in insecurity, poverty, marginalization, and weak governance. The author critiques military-centered strategies, particularly those led by the European Union, as misaligned with local needs and overly focused on migration control and counterterrorism. Mahssoun argues that such approaches deepen dependency and fail to resolve underlying causes. Instead, she advocates for an African-led response based on regional integration, South-South cooperation, and inclusive socio-economic programs. Initiatives such as the Liptako-Gourma Charter and the Atlantic Africa Initiative are highlighted as promising models, combining security measures with economic development, regional value chains, and community resilience. The recommendations emphasize investments in education, job creation, healthcare, and strategic infrastructure, while fostering local ownership and participation. This Pan-African approach seeks to provide a sustainable pathway to peace and development in the Sahel.

Governance, Economic Development, Security, Peace, Education, Development, Human security, Soicial sciences, Knowlege production, Regional integration

On August 26, 2025, Senegal’s National Assembly adopted two significant laws: Law No. 13/2025 establishing the status and protection of whistleblowers, and Law No. 14/2025 concerning access to information. These laws aim to strengthen governance, promote transparency, and combat corruption. The whistleblower protection law covers persons who, in good faith, report financial malfeasance or corruption, including their close associates, helpers, or legally affiliated entities, especially when public or private sector corruption or threats to the general interest are involved. Certain types of information remain exempt (medical secrecy, ongoing judicial investigations, etc.). The access to information law guarantees the right for any physical person or legal entity legally resident or established in Senegal to obtain information held by public institutions or other designated bodies, within eight days (extendable to fifteen), with processes that are free or adapted. An independent national commission will oversee implementation, with penalties (500,000 to 10 million FCFA) for unjustified refusals. The article emphasizes that adoption is a milestone, but real governance improvements depend on concrete implementation.

Governance, Information, Transparency, whistleblower

The article Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Globalization and Education in West Africa (a virtual dialogue organized by the citizen think tank WATHI) discusses how technological transformations — especially artificial intelligence (AI) — and globalization influence educational systems in West Africa. Although access to education has improved, considerable challenges remain: about 97.5 million children still out of school across Africa, low enrollment rates, vulnerabilities of the education systems in crisis situations (such as during the COVID-19 pandemic), lack of access to digital pedagogic tools, and insufficient teacher preparation for integrating these technologies. The article highlights that AI can offer opportunities like personalized learning, support for students in remote or disadvantaged areas, but implementation is hampered by infrastructural inequalities, limited resources, gaps in educator training, and political commitment that is still inadequate.

Governance, Inequality, Education, Intelligence artificielle