In this interview, Mouhammad Ciss, a digital communication trainer and program assistant for open local governance at AfricTivistes, emphasizes the need to establish a new relationship between citizens and administrations to strengthen democracy. He highlights the role of social media in raising awareness and mobilizing communities, particularly through tools like hashtags. Ciss discusses the Local Open Gov Lab project, which aims to integrate digital technologies into local governments in African countries such as Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Niger. This initiative seeks to enhance transparency, accountability, and citizen participation by training young volunteers in open local governance. He also stresses the importance of developing African social networks tailored to local needs, focusing on user experience and collaboration among developers and designers to create effective and relevant platforms.

Governance, Democracy, Public Administration, Numérique, Réseaux sociaux, Transparency

This study, conducted by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in collaboration with Promediation, analyzes the evolution of the jihadist threat in northern Ghana and Togo. It highlights the expansion of terrorist groups towards the coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea, facilitated by the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso and Mali. The study examines the varying levels of threat in these West African countries and emphasizes the importance of intergovernmental approaches to counter jihadist terrorism. It is based on field research conducted by local teams and Promediation consultants in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions.

Governance, Boundary, Security, Jihad, Cooperation, International cooperation

This study, conducted by the Regional Programme Political Dialogue in West Africa (PDWA) of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in collaboration with Promediation, analyzes the expansion of jihadist groups from the Sahel into the coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea. Originating from Burkina Faso, where certain regions are beyond state control, these groups are moving southward, utilizing border national parks as strategic retreat areas and sources of funding. The study emphasizes the urgency for coastal countries to strengthen regional cooperation and implement tailored strategies to contain this growing threat.

Governance, Boundary, Security, Jihad, Threat

As the October 2025 presidential election approaches, Côte d’Ivoire faces escalating political tensions. Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, though yet to confirm his candidacy, is expected to seek a fourth term. The opposition, represented by the PDCI's Tidjane Thiam and PPA-CI's Laurent Gbagbo, faces legal and political hurdles, including nationality controversies and judicial convictions. The Independent Electoral Commission is criticized for lacking transparency, intensifying tensions. The political climate is further strained by enduring identity fractures and strained relations with neighboring Sahel countries. The article emphasizes the urgent need for institutional reforms and inclusive dialogue to prevent a relapse into instability

Politics, Governance, Election, Instabilité

This panel, organized by Afrikajom Center in Dakar, brought together intellectuals, researchers, and civil society actors to examine the resurgence of military coups in West Africa. Discussions highlighted the failure of democratic transitions, the decline of the Baule model, widespread corruption, constitutional manipulation, and the perceived illegitimacy of ECOWAS. Speakers, including Gilles Yabi, Ndioro Ndiaye, and Abdoulaye Bathily, stressed the importance of military ethics, geopolitical shifts, and the weakening of rule of law and political representation. The debate underscored citizens’ growing support for military takeovers in contexts where civilian governments fail. Recommendations emphasized the need for endogenous reforms, strict term limits, strengthened democratic institutions, and the inclusion of civil society in regional governance frameworks. The event concluded with a call for bold, culturally rooted actions to address West Africa’s democratic and security crises.

Governance, Democracy, Crisis, Réforme, Coup d'État

This report presents the outcomes of a regional forum held in Dakar in November 2020, aimed at analyzing responses to violent extremism in the Sahel. It highlights the root causes of insecurity: poor governance, lack of basic services, social exclusion, and state-perpetrated violence. Four panels addressed the rule of law, institutional responses, human rights abuses, and peacebuilding. Recommendations emphasize the need for a holistic approach combining social justice, human security, and the active participation of women and youth. The report calls for institutional reform, acknowledgment of societal pluralism, and deeper community involvement in counter-radicalization efforts.

Governance, Security, Extremism, Human security, Violence, Radicalisation, Rule of law

In this podcast, Pape Abdou Ndour discusses the length of presidential terms in Africa, responding to a question about the appropriateness of 4- or 5-year terms. He emphasizes that the issue lies not in the term length itself but in the lack of genuine democratic practices, despite constitutions that proclaim democratic principles. Ndour critiques narratives that blame democracy's failure on its supposedly imported nature, noting that countries like Guinea have only experienced authoritarian regimes since independence. He asserts that principles of accountability and human rights are not exclusively Western. Rather than debating democracy's origins, he advocates focusing on necessary institutional reforms to establish a true democracy tailored to African contexts.

Governance, Election, Presidential term limits, Accountability

The Afrikajom Center colloquium, held in Dakar from March 8–10, 2023, gathered experts, researchers, and political actors to reflect on the multifaceted crisis facing democracy in West Africa. Discussions highlighted growing authoritarianism (e.g., third terms, state capture, rollback of freedoms), weak institutions, corruption, and the exclusion of youth and women. Participants called for a democratic renewal rooted in African contexts: checks on presidential power, independent judiciary, civic participation, inclusive governance, constitutional reform, and strengthened accountability. The event emphasized the need to rethink governance amid security instability, military transitions, and institutional inefficiency. It advocated for rebuilding a generational social contract and supporting the rise of a more participatory, context-responsive African democracy fit for 21st-century challenges.

Governance, Democracy, Transition, Rule of law

This report provides a critical assessment of the state of democracy, rule of law, human rights, and governance in West Africa. It highlights three interlinked crises: security, institutional, and health-related. Despite the presence of political pluralism, the region is witnessing growing authoritarianism, the persistence of third-term presidencies, and the erosion of institutions. Dysfunctional regulatory mechanisms are fueling political unrest, violations of fundamental rights, and contested elections. Based on country-level analyses, the report recommends strengthening the role of regional organizations, civil society, and African democratic norms. The aim is to alert decision-makers and social actors to the urgent need to rebuild a substantive and inclusive democracy in the face of current threats.

Governance, Democracy, Human Rights