In response to the worsening crisis in the Sahel—characterized by increased violence, mass population displacements, and the closure of thousands of schools—the Sahelian civil society, supported by international partners, launched the Citizen Coalition for the Sahel. This initiative aims to promote an inclusive, people-centered approach to resolving ongoing conflicts. The coalition is structured around four citizen pillars: the protection of civilians, the fight against impunity, addressing humanitarian emergencies, and promoting sustainable political solutions. It calls for close collaboration between states, international organizations, and local communities, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, to restore trust between populations and their governments and to build lasting peace.

Governance, Peace, Justice, Crisis management, Crise humanitaire

Since April 2023, over 930,000 individuals have fled the war in Sudan, seeking refuge in eastern Chad, particularly in the Ouaddaï region. This massive influx has placed significant strain on local resources, intensifying intercommunal tensions and agropastoral conflicts. Chadian authorities, with support from international partners, are striving to manage this humanitarian crisis while maintaining regional stability. The report emphasizes the need to strengthen cross-border cooperation, improve natural resource management, and promote dialogue among communities to prevent an escalation of violence. It also calls for increased international aid to support humanitarian and development efforts in the region.

Conflict, refugee, Aid, Crise humanitaire

The Mali Lean Season Note 2025 by Action Against Hunger (ACF) highlights worsening food and nutritional vulnerabilities due to conflict, climate shocks, and displaced populations. In 2025, over 1.5 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity, worsened by cuts in humanitarian funding (notably from USAID and UNICEF). The closure of over 400 school canteens threatens child nutrition and education. ACF documents positive impacts of its interventions (reaching 234,000 individuals), including improved food consumption, dietary diversity, and reduced negative coping strategies. However, persistent insecurity hinders humanitarian access and disrupts health services, especially in northern regions. ACF advocates for an integrated and community-centered response grounded in the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus. It emphasizes the need to strengthen local systems, involve civil society in planning, and ensure coordinated advocacy to secure sustainable financing and equitable assistance delivery.

Gender, Natural ressources, Security, Family, Food security, Gold, Human security, Social, Health, Insécurité, Malnutrition, Crise humanitaire

Since April 2023, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has led to the mass displacement of civilians into eastern Chad. This report, published by SIPRI in partnership with BUCOFORE, is based on perception surveys, qualitative interviews, and focus group discussions held in four refugee camps. It explores the lived experiences of displaced Sudanese women and girls, who face significant barriers to accessing food, reproductive health services, water, sanitation, and safety. The report highlights the chronic underfunding of humanitarian responses and the lack of gender-sensitive aid, both of which heighten the risks of gender-based violence. It offers concrete recommendations to policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and donors to improve the protection and support provided to refugee women and girls.

Human Rights, Women, Violence, refugee, Déplacement forcé, Crise humanitaire

Rebecca Mignot-Mahdavi’s report explores France’s military strategy against jihadist groups, particularly in the Sahel, revealing a lack of transparent legal justification. Unlike the U.S., which has openly articulated legal frameworks for its war on terror, France maintains silence, although its strategic documents and actions imply an extensive interpretation of international law. The author argues that France mirrors U.S. legal narratives by stretching the boundaries of jus ad bellum and jus in bello to legitimize ongoing military operations. Drawing on French parliamentary records and strategic reports, the paper highlights how France frames its fight as a generalized and indefinite war against jihadist groups. This implicit legal approach allows France to operate across borders and time without explicit legal constraint. Mignot-Mahdavi warns that such legal ambiguity normalizes endless conflict and undermines accountability, challenging the international rule of law.

Governance, Security, Terrorism, Counter terrorism, Crise humanitaire

The article published by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies on September 12, 2023, explores the worsening security crisis in Burkina Faso following the 2022 military coups. Islamist militant groups, including Katibat Hanifa and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, have escalated attacks, surrounding Ouagadougou and controlling nearly half the national territory. This violence has led to a 165% increase in civilian deaths over 18 months, the displacement of over 2.1 million people, and the closure of 6,134 schools, affecting more than a million students. Approximately 800,000 people across over two dozen towns are besieged by these armed groups. The instability has spilled into neighboring regions in Mali, Niger, Ghana, Togo, and Benin, posing a major threat to regional security.

Jihad, Insécurité, Crise humanitaire

The article highlights the alarming humanitarian crisis plaguing West Africa, notably in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where armed groups are carrying out violent attacks, forcing thousands of people to flee. These attacks have led to massacres, destruction and massive displacement, worsening an already fragile situation due to climate change and food insecurity. Since March 2024, more than 67,000 Burkinabè have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Mali, Togo, Ivory Coast and Ghana. As of August 2024, 5.45 million people were displaced in the Sahel region. The article also discusses the devastating impact of floods in Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, which are making access to essential resources even more difficult. The situation of refugees and internally displaced people remains critical.

Climate change, Violence, Crise humanitaire, Food insecurity

The OCHA report of March 2024 highlights the complexity of the humanitarian situation in Chad, exacerbated by structural crises, climate shocks and the massive influx of refugees fleeing the Sudanese conflict since April 2023. These factors seriously disrupt the provision of essential social services, particularly in the east of the country, and compromise development efforts. Chad, one of the poorest countries in the world, hosts more than a million refugees, placing it among the seven countries receiving the most. Inter- and intra-community conflicts, as well as the presence of non-state armed groups, lead to forced displacement of populations, particularly in the provinces of Logone Occidental and Lac. Food insecurity affects nearly 40% of households, with particularly high rates in the Sahelian and Saharan zones. The nutritional situation is worrying, aggravated by limited access to drinking water and health services. The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan aims to provide emergency assistance to 4 million people, improve access to social services for 3.6 million people and strengthen the resilience of 4.6 million people, with a total budget of US$1.14 billion.

Security, Conflict, refugee, Crise humanitaire