The International Crisis Group's article "Cameroon: Confronting Boko Haram" analyses the impact of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North region of Cameroon. It highlights the vulnerability of this region due to weak socio-economic indicators and a limited state presence, facilitating the establishment of the terrorist group. Boko Haram has exploited these weaknesses to recruit locally and finance its activities through kidnappings, cattle rustling and illegal trade. The consequences are multiple: political destabilisation, increased insecurity, local economic collapse and social tensions. The article criticises the mainly security-based response of the Cameroonian government, deemed insufficient without a socio-economic development strategy. It recommends an integrated approach combining reinforced security, development initiatives and regional cooperation to eradicate the Boko Haram threat and sustainably stabilise the Far North of Cameroon.

Governance, Security, Jihad

This article by ENDA Santé highlights the worsening polycrisis scenario in the Sahel, combining armed conflict, chronic poverty, food insecurity, demographic pressure, and climate change. These intersecting challenges overwhelm health systems and constrain state capacity to ensure essential services, especially amid an anticipated dip in international funding . The piece advocates for a paradigm shift in development strategies: favoring holistic, integrated interventions, tapping local resources, strengthening community resilience, and embracing adaptive governance. ENDA Santé emphasizes the need to connect health, food security, climate action, and peacebuilding into a unified framework to effectively tackle the region’s complex challenges.

Governance, Security, Development, Health, Crisis, Inclusion

Warrantage is currently expanding in several Sahel countries. It is a credit-storage mechanism implemented by a farmers' organization in collaboration with a financial institution. The process involves storing a portion of the harvested cereals in a warehouse for a few months in exchange for an individual loan. Without this credit system, farmers tend to sell their cereals immediately after harvest to repay debts or meet their basic needs. Consequences: Families subsequently struggle to bridge the "hunger gap"—the transitional period between the depletion of stocks and the next harvest—and face challenges in investing in their agricultural production systems. An impact assessment conducted in western Burkina Faso shows that warrantage increases food availability during the hunger gap and strengthens agricultural investment and production. To accelerate its development, three conditions must be met: Access to suitable storage infrastructure, Assurance of the quality of stored products, and Establishment of strong trust-based relationships between financial institutions, producer organizations, and traders. This last condition is being undermined by the expansion of armed conflicts in the Sahel.

Governance, Agriculture, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Development, Gold, Human security, Rural Areas, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production

Marie-Dominique Aguillon's article, "The Making of Senegalese Migration Policy," published in the journal Anthropologie & développement, examines the process of developing migration policy in Senegal, influenced by interventions from international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Based on ethnographic research, the article analyzes how these entities promote standardized migration policies in West Africa, focusing on the interactions between policymakers, experts, academics, and civil society actors in Senegal. The study reveals that, although the IOM plays a prescriptive role by introducing norms and policy frameworks, there are dynamics of local negotiation, contestation, and adaptation. Senegalese actors do not merely follow international directives passively but actively participate in the co-construction of migration policy, reflecting a plurality of logics and strategies. The article also highlights the tensions between the objectives of international organizations and national priorities, shedding light on challenges related to sovereignty and local ownership of migration policies.

Politics, Sovereignty, Migration

The IMF article titled "The Sahel's Intertwined Challenges" examines the multidimensional crises facing Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Since 2012, these nations have grappled with escalating insecurity due to the establishment of non-state armed groups, including terrorist organizations. This instability has led to military coups between 2020 and 2023, exacerbating political tensions and hindering economic and social development. School closures and mass displacements have particularly affected the youth, limiting their access to education and increasing their vulnerability to crime and terrorism. The article also highlights the enduring impact of French colonization on current institutional structures, contributing to the fragility of Sahelian states. Economic crises in the 1980s and 1990s further weakened these institutions, making countries dependent on international aid and impeding democratic consolidation

Governance, Development, Institution, Insécurité, Groupes armés non étatiques

Using the Sahel as an example, and more specifically the situation in the Lake Chad region, this article looks at how the growing recognition of climate change in scientific and political-institutional agendas is changing the way we think about the relationship between environmental crises, agriculture and violence. By recalling how this discussion is part of long-standing reflections on the relationship between resources and conflicts, he analyses the crystallisation of the debate into two camps - neo-determinist quantitative approaches at continental scales of study, on the one hand, and critical social science approaches such as Political ecology, which are more local and territorialized, on the other; as well as the role of think tanks as mediators of scientific work towards the political sphere. It explains the seduction of neo-determinist analyses despite the refutations fed by field research.

Agriculture, Climate change

The IRIS study, led by Caroline Roussy, examines the complexity of transboundary threats in the Sahel and West Africa, particularly the spread of terrorism in border areas between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. It highlights that 80% of recorded violence in this region occurs within 100 kilometers of land borders. Borders, often seen as dividing lines, are actually zones of contact and interaction, facilitating the movement of armed groups and the spread of extremist ideologies. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding local dynamics and cross-border interactions to develop effective counter-terrorism strategies. It recommends an integrated approach that considers the socio-economic and cultural realities of border populations, and enhanced cooperation between the concerned states to secure these vulnerable areas.

Governance, Boundary, Security, Cooperation

This report examines perceptions of security in Mali's Mopti, Timbuktu, Gao, and Bandiagara regions as part of the Just Future program. National and local perceptions vary greatly, influenced by factors such as the presence of security actors, the withdrawal of MINUSMA, and socio-economic conditions. Security improvements are noted in regions like Timbuktu, attributed to military patrols and enhanced mobility. However, insecurity persists in other areas, driven by armed groups, forced displacements, and attacks. Perceptions of security forces are mixed: while their presence instills some confidence, their behavior is criticized. Economic concerns, characterized by increasing poverty and limited opportunities, remain a critical issue. Recommendations highlight the need for greater collaboration between security forces and civil society.

Governance, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Education, Gold, Human security, Opinion, Threat, Researh, Knowlege production