Fahiraman Rodrigue Kone

Political party bans by military authorities in Burkina Faso and Niger have met little resistance, but in Mali they ignited defiance.

The latest tensions are a wake-up call for the AU, which has lost influence in the Sahel-Saharan region.

Local populations feel the effects of climate change, but new research shows only indirect links to violent extremism.

This report examines the processes used to manage coups, and recommends how they could be improved.

Broad political consensus is needed for the country to benefit from some promising decisions made at the recent dialogue.

New legislation targets the clientelism and political patronage that have plagued public service delivery for decades.

The UN mission’s withdrawal opens the door for assertive political leadership by ECOWAS and the AU.

Despite their institutional under-representation, women do not want to remain on the sidelines of political change.

Unlike its neighbours, Niger has made dialogue with violent extremist groups an important part of its strategy.

Without proper supervision and control, the use of 50 000 armed civilian auxiliaries could aggravate security problems.

Despite their invisibility in official negotiations, women play a decisive role in community peace agreements.

After the second coup in nine months, divisions in the army and security forces must be urgently resolved.