This article evaluates the impact of Senegal’s free health insurance programme for poor households, implemented through the National Family Security Scholarship Programme (PNBSF). Using 2019–2020 data from the rural area of Niakhar, the study assesses whether free enrollment in community-based health insurance (CBHI) improves healthcare utilisation and financial protection. Despite the programme’s intentions, the findings reveal major implementation failures: limited awareness among beneficiaries, unintentional or “virtual” enrollments, weak communication, and structural shortcomings within CBHI schemes. As a result, free insurance did not increase healthcare consultations during illness, antenatal care visits, or protection against catastrophic health expenditures. The only significant positive effect observed was an increase in facility-based deliveries. The authors conclude that the limited impact stems from implementation gaps rather than the concept of free insurance itself, stressing the need for stronger government commitment and measures to reduce barriers to accessing covered services.

Governance, Inequality, Gender, Conflict, Religious education, Education, Health, Threat, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Politique publique, Protection

The article examines the expansion of Jama’at Nasrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) into western and southern Mali, marked by seven coordinated attacks launched by the Macina Liberation Front (FLM) on July 1, 2025. These operations targeted Kayes and Nioro du Sahel—two strategic economic and religious hubs—opening a new front far from the group’s traditional strongholds in central and northern Mali. JNIM’s strategy aims to isolate Bamako by attacking key trade routes, fuel convoys, and industrial sites, causing shortages, rising prices, and severe disruption of commercial activity. Despite strengthened military checkpoints, ambushes continue, resulting in kidnappings, destroyed tankers, and population displacement toward Senegal and Mauritania. The FLM’s growing reach, combined with the junta’s increasing political repression and its break with international security partners, deepens Mali’s fragmentation and heightens risks for neighboring coastal states.

Politics, Political party, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Political Violence, Gold, Human security, Violence, Threat

The article examines the evolution of assisted deliveries in community health centres (CsCOM) in the Malian districts of Mopti and Bandiagara amid rising insecurity. Using a mixed-methods design combining spatial analyses, health centre performance indicators, and qualitative interviews, the study highlights strong territorial disparities. While most communes show declining or stagnant assisted delivery rates, some centres located near areas of violence experience increasing numbers. This paradox is explained by large-scale population displacement toward perceived safer areas hosting better-performing health centres, often supported by NGOs providing free maternal care and awareness campaigns. Conversely, remote centres show reduced utilisation due to the departure of qualified staff, reduced household income, and fear of travelling during insecurity. The findings demonstrate that conflict does not affect all services or territories equally and emphasise the need for fine-scale analyses to accurately assess how insecurity shapes maternal healthcare utilisation.

Security, Conflict, Political Violence, Education, Human security, Threat, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, EMPLOYMENT

This study maps Senegal’s cattle and small ruminant trade network using 2020 sanitary certificates (LPS). Applying temporal network theory, it identifies areas most vulnerable to disease transmission, such as Foot and Mouth Disease. The findings show that livestock mobility—driven by climate, markets, and religious events (Tabaski, Grand Magal)—shapes the dynamics of disease spread. Static models tend to overestimate transmission speed, while temporal analysis highlights key “sentinel nodes” for early warning systems. Strengthening cross-border coordination and improving regular data collection are crucial for effective surveillance and control of transboundary animal diseases in West Africa.

Pastoralism, Livestock, Justice, Conflict, Threat, Trade, Researh, Knowlege production, Information, EMPLOYMENT

This article analyzes ECOWAS’s response to the 2021 coup d’état in Guinea through the lens of the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. The authors argue that ECOWAS’s reaction was undermined by internal contradictions and political inconsistency. While condemning coups, the organization remained silent on Alpha Condé’s constitutional manipulation, which allowed him to extend his rule unlawfully. This selective stance eroded ECOWAS’s credibility. The paper highlights the limited impact of sanctions, the shallow economic integration among member states, and the growing cooperation among military regimes in Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. It concludes that ECOWAS must strengthen its monitoring of electoral processes, enforce its democratic norms equally, and avoid double standards if it seeks to restore legitimacy and promote lasting democratic governance in West Africa.

Power, State, Governance, Economic Development, Justice, Conflict, Democracy, Development, Election, Threat

The article “Regional Cooperation and Maritime Governance in the Gulf of Guinea: A Critical Analysis” by René Ngek Monteh (University of Yaounde I) explores the dynamics of maritime governance and regional cooperation across the Gulf of Guinea, from Senegal to Angola. Despite multiple international efforts (UN, EU, ECOWAS, ECCAS, MOWCA), the region remains plagued by piracy, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and corruption. Monteh highlights weak institutions, poor coordination, and mistrust among states as major obstacles to effective maritime governance. He advocates for integrated regional frameworks, institutional capacity building, and political reforms to ensure sustainable resource use and enhanced maritime security. The paper argues that peace at sea depends on stability on land, urging stronger collaboration between states, regional organizations, and international partners to achieve sustainable peace and a resilient blue economy.

State, Governance, Security, Peace, Justice, Conflict, Human security, Cooperation, Threat, Knowlege production

The article Managing Election Violence and Sustaining Peace and Security in West Africa, authored by Professor Charles Ukeje and Dr. Wale Olusola, explores the persistent issue of electoral violence and its impact on peace and democratic consolidation in West Africa. Published in November 2023 by the Building Blocks for Peace Foundation (BBFORPEACE) and GPPAC West Africa, the paper argues that elections—meant to strengthen democracy—often fuel insecurity. It highlights both structural (poverty, unemployment, exclusion) and immediate (hate speech, manipulation, external influence) causes of electoral violence. The authors recommend returning to civilian rule, promoting peace education, reforming political parties, and enhancing collaboration among ECOWAS, civil society, and development partners. The report underscores that inclusive and peaceful elections are essential to sustaining regional stability and democratic governance.

Gender, Security, Peace, Justice, Conflict, Political Violence, Election, Human security, Violence, Threat

This article introduces an open-access and highly detailed dataset on temporary migration in Senegal, derived from mobile phone data collected by the operator Sonatel between 2013 and 2015. It provides measures of migration flows and stocks across 151 locations every half-month, focusing on movements lasting between 20 and 180 days. By overcoming the limitations of conventional surveys, the authors present an algorithmic framework that detects migration events from digital traces and distinguishes between daily, temporary, and permanent mobility. The dataset, methodologically validated, represents a unique resource for scholars and policymakers to analyze internal mobility patterns, resilience to economic or climatic shocks, and regional planning dynamics. This approach also offers a scalable model for migration statistics generation in other developing contexts.

Migration, Conflict, Education, Election, Threat, Urbanisation, Soicial sciences, Researh, Knowlege production, Information

This article highlights the role of Professional Military Education (PME) institutions in fostering professional, apolitical African armies committed to constitutional defense and democratic governance. The urgency to strengthen PME has grown amid rising military politicization and a wave of coups since 2020 (Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Sudan). Africa hosts over 118 military schools, including War Colleges, Staff Colleges, and Military Academies across the continent. However, the mere existence of these institutions does not guarantee stronger professionalism: their impact depends on curriculum quality, democratic values integration, and robust civil-military relations. Surveys show young African officers hold strong ideals of public service, but these must be reinforced by tailored, context-sensitive training. The article stresses that not all countries require costly war colleges; regional cooperation can fill gaps. Strengthening PME is presented as a key step to professionalize African militaries and support democratic transitions.

Politics, Political party, Power, State, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Gold, Human security, Threat