Other documents that may interest you :

• Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance,

  Building Substantive Democracy in Africa in a World Seeking Direction 01/07/2025

  Summary :

  This podcast by WATHI, released on June 29, 2025, reflects on the Second African Democracy Assembly held in Dakar by the Innovation Foundation for Dem...

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  Country : Mali , Senegal , Benin

  Organizations : WATHI
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Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance,
Building Substantive Democracy in Africa in a World Seeking Direction 01/07/2025
Summary :
This podcast by WATHI, released on June 29, 2025, reflects on the Second African Democracy Assembly held in Dakar by the Innovation Foundation for Democracy, chaired by Achille Mbembé. The speaker advocates for a substantive democracy rooted in civic engagement, inclusive dialogue, social justice, and national cohesion—beyond mere elections. Using Senegal’s recent political dialogue as a case study, the episode emphasizes the democratic value of public participation in institutional reform. Drawing from Afrobarometer and V-Dem data, the podcast warns of growing authoritarianism globally and in Africa. It calls for the strategic, sovereign use of external aid, the empowerment of youth and civil society, and the formation of pragmatic alliances to build resilient democratic systems anchored in African realities.
Keywords :
Sovereignty, Governance, Democracy, Election, Civil Society
Organizations :
WATHI
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• Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance,

  Niger Two Years After the Coup d’État: Deadlock, Uncertainties, and a Pride That Kills 31/07/2025

  Summary :

  Two years after Niger’s July 26, 2023 coup d’état, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, the country remains mired in political and socio-economic deadl...

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  Country : Niger

  Organizations : WATHI
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Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance,
Niger Two Years After the Coup d’État: Deadlock, Uncertainties, and a Pride That Kills 31/07/2025
Summary :
Two years after Niger’s July 26, 2023 coup d’état, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, the country remains mired in political and socio-economic deadlock. Former head of the presidential guard, Tiani justified overthrowing President Bazoum by citing security failures and excessive foreign—particularly French—influence. Reactions from ECOWAS, including sanctions and the threat of military intervention, along with France’s stance, bolstered the CNSP’s nationalist image. Yet, continued closure of the border with Benin, soaring prices, and worsening poverty have deepened public disillusionment. Bazoum and his wife remain under house arrest, symbolizing an unfinished transition. Despite sovereignist rhetoric, the current government has failed to improve the economy or security. The future remains uncertain, with the risk that the pursuit of dignity could lead to prolonged insecurity, authoritarianism, and widespread poverty.
Keywords :
Sovereignty, Governance, Coup d'État
Organizations :
WATHI
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• Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance,

  Is Foreign Policy Still an Elite Affair in the Sahel? 05/05/2025

  Summary :

  Angeline Savadogo's article explores the shifting nature of foreign policy in the Sahel, once confined to diplomatic elites but now influenced by acti...

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  Country : Burkina Faso , Mali , Niger

  Organizations : WATHI
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Academic analysis and Think Tank / Governance,
Is Foreign Policy Still an Elite Affair in the Sahel? 05/05/2025
Summary :
Angeline Savadogo's article explores the shifting nature of foreign policy in the Sahel, once confined to diplomatic elites but now influenced by active youth participation. Young people, educated or not, increasingly engage with geopolitics—through protests, demands for sovereignty, and symbolic actions—reflecting a politicized but often under-informed citizenry. The article highlights the institutional void: youth centers are dysfunctional, formal diplomacy remains distant, and international norms like the Vienna Convention are little known. Social media becomes the main outlet for expression. Savadogo calls for inclusive strategic thinking involving youth, scholars, and institutions. She advocates for integrating international relations into educational systems and fostering participatory diplomacy. In the Sahel’s shifting geopolitical landscape, youth are not passive observers—they are emerging actors. Without structured engagement, they risk becoming destabilizing forces instead of constructive agents of change.
Keywords :
Sovereignty, Governance, Youth, Democracy
Organizations :
WATHI
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• Digital platform / Governance, Resilience,

  Building the Future Differently: A West African Compass for Transitions 08/08/2025

  Summary :

  West Africa confronts profound challenges — climate change, demographic pressure, rapid urbanization, technological shifts — amid persistent vulnerabi...

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  Country : Nigeria

  Organizations : WATHI
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Digital platform / Governance, Resilience,
Building the Future Differently: A West African Compass for Transitions 08/08/2025
Summary :
West Africa confronts profound challenges — climate change, demographic pressure, rapid urbanization, technological shifts — amid persistent vulnerabilities but also significant opportunities. This op-ed by Marie-Noël Maffon, published on July 31, 2025 in WATHI’s Tribune section, advocates for an “African compass for transitions,” rooted in endogenous transformation. It emphasizes building resilience, investing in human capital, and advancing economic sovereignty, with youth and local knowledge as drivers of inclusive governance. The article highlights the severe impact of climate — floods, droughts, agricultural losses — threatening food security and livelihoods. Water-related tensions, particularly in the Lake Chad basin and Niger River valley, underscore the heightened risk of conflict. The most vulnerable — women, children, small-scale farmers, indigenous populations — are bearing the brunt of this multidimensional crisis.
Keywords :
Sovereignty, Youth, Transition, Inclusion
Organizations :
WATHI
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