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, Human security, Marché

This study examines the sharp decline in under-five mortality in Burkina Faso from 2010 to 2021, using Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data and the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method. Findings indicate that under-five mortality dropped from 128 per 1,000 live births in 2010 to 48 per 1,000 in 2021. The decline is mainly explained (77%) by performance effects, including behavioral changes and the effectiveness of health policies, while demographic composition changes accounted for only 23%. Key factors include the reduction in uneducated mothers, wider use of mosquito nets, urbanization, and improved health behaviors among unemployed women. Nevertheless, significant disparities remain in high-risk regions such as the Sahel and the Southwest, where targeted interventions are essential to improve healthcare access and reduce inequalities. The study highlights the importance of integrating health policies with education, economic development, and sanitation for sustained progress.

Politics, Economic Development, Gender, Conflict, Religious education, Education, Development, Family, Women, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Démographie, Santé publique

The article “Assessing the Impact of Climate Extreme Events and Conflicts on Internal Displacement in Burkina Faso”, published in January 2025 in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, explores the dynamic links between climate extremes (floods, storms, droughts), conflicts (violent and non-violent, protests), and internal displacement in Burkina Faso from 2018 to 2022 . Findings reveal that in the short term, violent conflicts, demonstrations, and storms are associated with increased internal displacement. In the long term, only violent conflicts and storms remain significantly linked to displacement, while floods show no significant impact and the effect of demonstrations diminishes over time . The study underlines the need for effective conflict management and climate adaptation strategies to mitigate forced displacement.

Migration, Climate change, Security, Conflict

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

The article examines pastoralism in Nigeria, exploring its historical roots, sustainable practices, and current challenges. Rooted in Fulani cultural heritage, pastoralism involves extensive livestock rearing of cattle, sheep, and goats, using techniques like rotational grazing and selective breeding. Grazing lands and reserves face threats from urbanization, climate change, and farmer-herder conflicts. Despite initiatives such as the National Livestock Transformation Plan and cattle colonies, implementation has been limited. Pastoralism plays a vital economic and social role, providing food, income, employment, and cultural identity. The authors stress the need for stronger infrastructure, secure land tenure, integration of traditional knowledge with modern innovations, and climate-resilient practices. Collaboration among herders, government, NGOs, and civil society is deemed crucial to ensuring sustainability and productivity of the pastoral system in Nigeria.

State, Livestock, Climate change, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Development, Food security, Human security, Customs

The pastoral surveillance bulletin (April–May 2025) for northern Côte d’Ivoire, prepared by ACF, RBM, and OPEN-CI, highlights fragile pastoral conditions despite improvements from the onset of the rainy season. Pasture and water resources remain insufficient in some areas due to pressures from transhumance, refugee inflows, and land conflicts. Livestock body condition is generally fair, but animal diseases persist. Cattle thefts and inter-community conflicts, exacerbated by cross-border insecurity, disrupt transhumance routes. Markets remain open but show significant price fluctuations, worsening terms of trade for herders, especially in Tchologo. Recommendations include strengthening security, promoting joint resource management, conflict prevention, and supporting pastoral community resilience.

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

This report examines the persistent food insecurity in the Central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger), through four major crises between 2004 and 2022. It identifies both structural (climate, demographic growth, poverty) and emerging (conflict, political instability, global price shocks) vulnerability factors. Despite the expansion of early warning systems and crisis management mechanisms, governance remains fragmented, overly technocratic, underfunded, and poorly coordinated. The report calls for more inclusive, integrated governance to connect prevention, resilience, social protection, and food sovereignty. Responses remain largely reactive and short-term, while areas affected by armed conflict are the most food insecure. The study concludes that strategic frameworks must be rethought to include multisectoral and territorialized approaches, enhancing the capacity to deal with compounded risks.

Security, Conflict, Development, Food security, Human security, Threat, Researh, Knowlege production, Crisis, Food insecurity

The February–March 2025 Pastoral Monitoring Bulletin, published by Action Against Hunger, highlights key challenges for pastoralism in the Sahel. This transition period between the cold and hot dry seasons is characterized by the drying up of temporary water points and widespread bushfires that have reduced forage availability. Nevertheless, pasture remains generally sufficient. Seasonal transhumance movements are mainly downward, but abnormal or forced movements linked to insecurity are also reported. The body condition of livestock ranges from fair to satisfactory, although suspected disease outbreaks are noted. Cereal and livestock prices are mostly rising, but terms of trade remain unfavorable for herders in many areas. Livestock theft, limited market access, and the arrival of refugees are further complicating conditions in certain regions.

State, Pastoralism, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Education, Human security, Insécurité

In this article published in March 2025 by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Joseph Siegle analyzes the regional and political drivers of Sudan’s ongoing conflict. He discusses the U.S. designation of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as perpetrators of genocide in Darfur, where civilians—mainly from the Masalit ethnic group—have suffered large-scale atrocities. The conflict, a power struggle between RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has attracted competing regional sponsors: the United Arab Emirates back RSF, while Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others support SAF. Siegle warns of the danger of a prolonged proxy war and emphasizes the need for Sudanese civilians to be central in any negotiated settlement. He calls for all regional actors to reassess their strategic interests to prevent further fragmentation and ensure a viable political resolution.

Politics, Political party, Power, State, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Conflict, Threat