The Pastoral Monitoring Bulletin for Niger (August–September 2025) highlights an overall positive outlook for herders. Favorable rainfall significantly improved pasture and water availability, resulting in good livestock body condition. Livestock prices rose while cereal prices declined, improving the terms of trade for pastoral households.

State, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Education, Gold, Human security, Marché, water

The book The Financialization of Health in Senegal (1840–1960), written by Valéry Ridde and published in 2025 by Éditions Science et Bien Commun (Québec), explores the evolution of health financing under French colonial rule. Drawing on extensive archival sources, Ridde reveals that colonial health systems—often depicted as humanitarian progress—were in fact marked by deep inequalities and fiscal exploitation. The study traces the origins of health financialization through patient payments, private medical practice, and limited mutual aid schemes. The Indigenous Medical Assistance (AMI), ostensibly free, imposed taxes and fees that burdened African populations. By examining budgets, hospital structures, and policy reforms, the book exposes the ideological and bureaucratic mechanisms that shaped colonial health governance and laid the groundwork for modern health inequities in Senegal.

Politics, Political party, Natural ressources, Justice, Education, Gold, Social, Health, Researh, water

The Pastoral Surveillance Bulletin for Senegal (August–September 2025), published by Action Against Hunger (ACF), assesses pasture and livestock conditions amid delayed and uneven rainfall. Pastoral zones in the north and centre (Ferlo, Louga, Matam) face significant forage stress, prompting early livestock movements southward and into neighbouring countries. Animal body condition is average, yet low milk production and rising feed costs are undermining household livelihoods. Livestock markets remain active but show stagnant prices. ACF calls for targeted assistance (fodder, water, veterinary care) and stronger coordination among humanitarian actors before the critical lean season expected by December 2025.

Pastoralism, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Food security, Gold, Human security, Researh, Knowlege production, Marché, Transhumance, water

The report Biomass Production in Mali 2025: Analysis and Prospects for 2026, published by Action Against Hunger (ACF), assesses vegetation production using satellite data (SPOT-VEGETATION, PROBA-V, SENTINEL-3). Despite insecurity and below-average rainfall in northern regions, overall biomass production remains above average, especially in southern and central Mali. However, northern areas (Timbuktu, Gao, Ménaka, Kidal) show significant deficits, pointing to an early pastoral lean season. The report urges enhanced security, sustainable pasture management, and livestock support. Projections for 2026 indicate contrasting situations: an early lean season in the north and a delayed one in the south. The study highlights how climate variability and insecurity affect pasture availability and pastoral resilience across Mali.

State, Natural ressources, Security, Justice, Education, Gold, Poverty, Human security, Vulnerability, water

This Action Against Hunger report assesses biomass production in northern Côte d’Ivoire (Bagoué, Bounkani, Folon, Poro, and Tchologo regions) during the 2025 season. Findings show a marked improvement compared to 2024, with production levels equal to or above the 25-year average. Departments such as Ferkessédougou and Minignan nearly reached historical maxima, while M’Bengué and Ouangolodougou remained below average. The report highlights the strain on pastoral resources due to cross-border transhumance and inflows of herders from Burkina Faso and Mali. The authors recommend maintaining monitoring systems for pastoral zones, strengthening awareness among host and transhumant communities, and guiding herders toward areas with higher biomass potential to ensure sustainable management of grazing resources.

Pastoralism, Natural ressources, Justice, Education, Gold, Poverty, Vulnerability, Soicial sciences, Knowlege production, water

The Pastoral Surveillance Bulletin No. 33 (June–July 2025), published by Action Against Hunger (ACF), reports a gradual improvement in pastoral conditions with the onset of the rainy season across the Sahel. Vegetation growth and water replenishment have enhanced forage and watering availability. Livestock body condition is assessed as fair, with some reported animal diseases but no major outbreaks. Cattle movements remain limited, though some returns and forced displacements continue due to insecurity. Cereal and livestock prices have slightly increased, resulting in unfavorable terms of trade for herders. The report also highlights the persistent vulnerability of displaced households and the need for stronger support to the pastoral sector.

State, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Education, Gold, Human security, Vulnerability, water

The Pastoral Surveillance Bulletin No. 36 (August–September 2025), published by Action Against Hunger – Mali Mission, provides an overview of pastoral conditions in Gao and Timbuktu regions. Seasonal rains have improved pasture availability, vegetation cover, and livestock health, easing tensions between herders and farmers. Access to water remains satisfactory on 61% of monitored sites. However, security challenges persist, with continued livestock thefts and extortion by armed groups. Market exchange terms remain unfavorable to herders, and institutional support for the pastoral sector is limited. The report calls for strengthening veterinary services, conflict prevention mechanisms, and sustainable management of rangeland resources to improve livelihoods and food security in northern Mali.

State, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Gold, Human security, Knowlege production, Marché, water

The Mauritania Pastoral Surveillance Bulletin No. 36 (August–September 2025), published by Action Against Hunger (ACF), reports generally favorable pastoral conditions due to continued rainfall during the season. Pastures and water points are well replenished in most wilayas, improving livestock body condition. However, some areas still experience localized forage deficits, particularly in Hodh El Chargui and Gorgol. Animal diseases remain under control with no major outbreaks reported. Livestock prices remain high, while cereal prices continue to rise, leading to unfavorable terms of trade for herders. The report highlights the importance of strengthening animal health monitoring and promoting sustainable management of pastoral resources.

State, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Gold, Human security, Social, Information, water

This paper conducts a sub-national scale examination of the links between water scarcity and violent conflicts across the central Sahel and Lake Chad Basin (2000-2021). Employing the water footprint concept and the Falkenmark index, the authors develop five monthly water-scarcity metrics (runoff, soil moisture, potential evapotranspiration, water consumption, demographics). The findings reveal high levels of water scarcity — especially green water scarcity (soil moisture deficit) and low Falkenmark index values (population-driven water stress) — during the dry, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons at all locations with recorded conflicts. This indicates an indirect relationship between green water scarcity, water-stress indices and violent conflicts. The study suggests that its methodology and results could help improve water-resources management and conflict-prevention efforts in the region and beyond.

Governance, Security, Conflict, water