The article examines the failures and controversial consequences of French military cooperation programs in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region. The author argues that Western military assistance and training programs have failed to stabilize the region or professionalize local armed forces. Instead, they have sometimes strengthened corrupt governments, encouraged military impunity, and contributed to violence against civilians. The failure of Operation Barkhane illustrates the contradictions of a counterterrorism strategy focused mainly on military responses while neglecting the political and institutional roots of instability. The article also highlights the involvement of some Sahelian armies in arms trafficking and predatory economic practices. Furthermore, the author criticizes the lack of democratic oversight and serious evaluation of French military partnerships in Africa. He suggests that beyond security concerns, these cooperations also serve geopolitical influence, intelligence gathering, and the preservation of France’s military presence and strategic interests on the continent.

Politics, Political party, Power, Security, Justice, Conflict, Education, Human security, Cooperation, Threat

This article critically examines the concept of "jihadist governance" in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, drawing on case studies from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Somalia. The author analyses the capacity of armed groups — JNIM, Islamic State in the Sahel, Boko Haram/ISWAP and Al-Shabaab — to administer territory, maintain order, dispense justice and collect taxes. He demonstrates that such governance remains episodic, fragmented and unsustainable: pre-conflict state standards in rural areas were already so low that any alternative form of order appears relatively effective. Jihadist taxation (zakat, levies, tolls) is inconsistent, often arbitrary and largely non-compliant with Islamic jurisprudence. Popular support stems primarily from state failure rather than genuine ideological allegiance. The author concludes that jihadist groups are unlikely to seize regional capitals, and that their resilience should not be mistaken for a genuine capacity to govern.

Politics, Political party, Power, State, Governance, Justice, Conflict, Education, Social, Threat

This report analyzes early warning systems (EWS) in West Africa and their role in preventing security, social, and climate-related crises. It highlights the importance of the ECOWARN system of ECOWAS, connected with national systems and the African Union’s continental mechanism. Based on field research involving 120 stakeholders across four countries, the study shows that institutional cooperation and information sharing are key to anticipating conflicts. It emphasizes the contribution of technological innovations, particularly artificial intelligence, in data analysis and improving response capacity. However, several challenges remain, including limited coordination, insufficient technical resources, weak political ownership, and difficulties in translating alerts into concrete actions. The report recommends strengthening system interoperability, human capacities, and regional cooperation to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of early warning systems.

Politics, Political party, Economic Development, Security, Conflict, Education, Human security, Information, Crisis, Donnée

The article offers a critical review of the literature on the crisis of research for development in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, from independence to the present. It argues that this crisis is structural, marked by institutional weaknesses, insufficient funding, external dependency, and the marginalization of social sciences. In the 1960s–70s, the main issue was capacity building, accompanied by relative optimism. From the 1980s–90s onward, the crisis deepened due to structural adjustment policies, massification of higher education, and the weakening of research systems. Since the 2000s, the crisis persists but has evolved with globalization, the rise of consultancy work, and the fragmentation of scientific communities. The author highlights the importance of internal factors (governance, public policies, academic organization) and advocates for reclaiming scientific production grounded in African realities.

Politics, Political party, Economic Development, Education, Development, Social, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Crisis

This article analyzes the evolution of Malian civil society within the political transition initiated in 2020. Amid profound institutional reforms, the dissolution of political parties in 2025, and a perceived shrinking of civic space, civil society faces a strategic turning point. The study provides a typological mapping of actors (human rights organizations, youth movements, women’s associations, trade unions, religious organizations, think tanks, and diaspora groups) and examines their contribution to state refoundation reforms. It highlights tensions between collaboration and autonomy, support for transitional authorities and counter-power functions. The article also emphasizes major structural challenges: dependency on external funding, organizational weaknesses, internal fragmentation, and political ambiguities. Despite these constraints, civil society remains a key actor in social cohesion and civic participation. The analysis concludes that its future will depend on its adaptability, financial resilience, and ability to clarify its democratic positioning.

Politics, Political party, State, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Education, Social, Civil Society

This article examines the emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), created in 2023 by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following a series of military coups. The author situates the AES within the broader trajectory of Sahelian securitization, rooted in counterterrorism strategies implemented since the early 2000s. Drawing on securitization and resilience theories, the study argues that AES regimes promote a form of “maintenance resilience,” aimed at preserving an already securitized political order rather than addressing the structural drivers of insecurity. Despite official narratives emphasizing sovereignty, rupture, and anti-imperialism, the Alliance largely reproduces existing security logics and dependencies, particularly through new external military partnerships. The analysis highlights how the dominance of security-based governance reinforces the suspension of democratic processes and limits prospects for political transformation. Ultimately, the article questions the capacity of the AES to provide a sustainable and inclusive response to the Sahel’s multidimensional crises.

Politics, Political party, State, Governance, Natural ressources, Security, Political Violence, Human security, Violence, Threat

The article examines ten key trends that shaped Africa’s security landscape in 2025, using graphical and comparative data. It highlights the growing regionalization of conflicts, particularly the fragmentation of Sudan, which has become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The Sahel remains the deadliest region for Islamist militant violence, with security conditions worsening significantly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups. Political instability is closely linked to democratic backsliding, increasing impunity, and abuses of power. The article also emphasizes intensifying geopolitical competition, notably the expanding security and economic presence of China, Russia, and Gulf states across the continent. Technological changes, especially the widespread use of drones, are transforming the nature of warfare and increasing risks to civilians. Despite these challenges, the article notes partial but meaningful progress toward the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly in infrastructure development, regional connectivity, and continental economic integration.

Political party, State, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Political Violence, Human security, Violence, Threat

The article examines China’s strategy to dominate Africa’s critical minerals sector, which is vital for defense technologies, energy transition, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence. Through long-term investments, China now controls more than half of global critical mineral production and about 87% of global refining capacity. In Africa, this dominance is built on the acquisition of strategic mines, control of key infrastructure—ports, railways, and energy—through the Belt and Road Initiative, and resource-backed financing agreements. This vertically integrated approach constrains African countries’ ability to move up the value chain and deepens their economic dependence. The article also highlights the environmental, social, and political risks linked to Chinese mining practices, illustrated by major pollution scandals in several African countries. In response, some African governments are pursuing greater mineral sovereignty through export restrictions, regional industrial zones, and local processing policies, aiming to capture more value from their natural resources and reduce structural dependency.

Politics, Political party, State, Sovereignty, Natural ressources, Justice, Influence, Private sector, Civil Society, Information

This article examines the challenges facing environmental protection in Guinea’s mining sector, despite the existence of a relatively robust legal framework. Rich in mineral resources, Guinea has liberalized its mining sector since the early 1990s under the influence of international financial institutions. The 2011 Mining Code, inspired by ECOWAS regional standards, includes environmental obligations throughout the mining lifecycle, including environmental impact assessments, pollution prevention, waste management, and site rehabilitation and closure. However, the author highlights significant implementation gaps. Limited transparency, reinforced by the confidentiality of environmental information held by mining companies, restricts access to information and weakens accountability. Guinea’s progress under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) remains modest. The article argues for stronger enforcement of international standards, such as those of the IFC, OECD, and the United Nations Global Compact, to promote more responsible environmental governance in the mining sector.

Political party, Governance, Environment, Natural ressources, Transparency