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

Nearly 25 million Nigerians – including some 6 million children under five – are at high risk of facing severe food insecurity between June and August 2023 unless urgent measures are taken. According to the October 2022 Cadre Harmonisé, this represents a significant increase from the 17 million people already threatened. The main drivers include ongoing armed conflicts (notably in the northeast), climate change, inflation and rising food prices. Extensive floods in the 2022 rainy season damaged more than 676,000 ha of farmland, further undermining food access. In the states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY), and in the north-west region (Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto), displaced and returning populations are particularly vulnerable. The article calls for immediate support to prevent a dramatic worsening of hunger.

Climate change, Conflict, Enfant, Food insecurity

The article examines the effectiveness of defense and security forces in the Sahel and West Africa amid the rise of terrorist groups. Since the 1990s, structural weaknesses—poor equipment, limited training, and lack of modernization—have undermined national armies’ ability to confront asymmetric threats. Armed groups exploit these vulnerabilities, relying on insurgent and guerrilla tactics that outperform conventional military approaches. The document highlights varied national situations: the fragility of Mali and Burkina Faso, the relative preparedness of Niger, and Mauritania’s successful military reforms. It also emphasizes the shortcomings of foreign operations and the operational limitations of the G5 Sahel Joint Force. The article recommends strengthening military capacities, adopting counter-insurgency doctrines, enhancing cooperation with local communities, improving regional coordination, and investing in intelligence and surveillance.

Governance, Security, Terrorism, Coopération régionale

This article offers a systematic and reflexive review of 656 publications (1958–March 2022) on intra-West African migration, sourced from Scopus using PRISMA and Mayring’s qualitative content analysis. It documents a sharp rise in output since the 2000s, with research clustered on Ghana and Nigeria, followed by Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Dominant topics are work/labour, social/family relations, and ethnicity/identity, while environment and climate change have recently gained traction. Studies focus more on outcomes than drivers of migration and tend to privilege urban destinations (the “urban trap”). Women and youth remain underrepresented, and translocal approaches are still uncommon. In terms of knowledge production, authors’ affiliations are predominantly in the US and Europe, reflecting postcolonial hierarchies; the authors call for decolonizing research agendas and strengthening West Africa-based scholarship.

Migration, Gender, Climate change, Environment, Youth, Women

Cross-sectional study in Dakar (December 2021) among 301 adults (20–69 years) assessed ultra-processed food (UPF) intake using NOVA and quantified contributions to NCD-related critical nutrients. UPFs provided 17.4% of total energy, 43% of free sugars, 26.9% of total fat, 24.4% of sodium and 24% of potassium. Individuals in the highest UPF tercile consumed more total energy (~1,996 kcal), total fat, free sugars, potassium and protein than those in the lowest tercile. Greater UPF share was positively associated with exceeding recommended total fat intake (OR = 2.58; p = 0.002) and negatively associated with non-recommended intakes of potassium (OR = 0.01; p < 0.001) and protein (OR = 0.43; p = 0.009). Authors conclude UPFs substantially shape diet quality in urban Senegal and may be a major determinant of NCD incidence and prevalence.

Governance, Food security, Health, Santé publique

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 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