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Mali: Insecurity Erodes Chances of Return to Civilian Rule in Niger and Mali
RFI, 2 April 2024
Attacks by jihadists are on the rise in both Niger and Mali, where juntas are keen to hold on to power. The volatile situation in the Sahel region is casting a long shadow over… Read more »
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West Africa: What Turmoil in Ecowas Means for Nigeria and Regional Stability
Crisis Group, 29 March 2024
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have left ECOWAS, the regional bloc that sanctioned them after military officers seized power in each. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Nnamdi… Read more »
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Niger: Transition in Niger - Avoiding the Dangers of Stagnation
ISS, 14 March 2024
With ECOWAS sanctions lifted, the military authorities must rapidly set the course for Niger to return to civilian rule. Read more »
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West Africa: Ecowas' Lift of Sanctions Must Lead to Return of Democratic Rule
Daily Trust, 13 March 2024
At the end of the extraordinary session of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which took place on Saturday, February 24,… Read more »
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Mali: The Struggle for Control in Mali's Restive North
DW, 29 February 2024
The conquest of Kidal was a success for Mali's military regime -- but the north is still far from under control. Bamako is pursuing a tough military course, but jihadists and… Read more »
Insecurity Erodes Chances of Civilian Rule in Niger and Mali
Some experts have expressed fears that with the increasing violence in the Sahel, due to the multiplicity of armed groups, it's hard to see how a political transition could actually take place. "All parties now acknowledge that the challenges in the region are even higher than expected," says Afolabi Adekaiyaoja, a political analyst at the Centre for Democracy and Development in Abuja. Adekaiyaoja said that the level of violence that has followed the departure of Western troops has surprised even the juntas, "especially in Niger",
While in Mali a roadmap leading to elections was supposed to be put in place in February, paving the way for the junta to leave power on 26 March - but its military rulers have already missed the deadline.
"They are using the meltdown within Ecowas to free themselves from any democratic obligation," another analyst said.
InFocus
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Although the security situation in the region has worsened since the militaries in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso overthrew their civilian-led governments, some experts think the ... Read more »
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The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger would not only be a disaster for its counter-terrorism initiatives in the region but would also hinder its efforts to counter the rise of ... Read more »
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A new report on global terrorism shows a dramatic rise in the number of terrorism-related deaths while revealing that the Sahel region of Sub-Saharan Africa witnessed more deaths ... Read more »
Burkinabe soldiers practice at a U.S.-led counterterrorism exercise among Sahel militaries in 2020. Burkina Faso’s coup last month underscores a need for stronger policies to prevent military seizures of power.
