Analyses

Mali: what future for the Jnim-FLA coalition? The evolving partnership between the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (Jnim) and the Front de Libération du Azawad (FLA) is reshaping the security landscape in Mali. As these two factions deepen their collaboration, analysts and policymakers are closely examining the potential consequences for regional stability and the broader […]

During a national celebration press briefing on April 4, 2025, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye made a bold declaration: he intends to overhaul the balance of power between the presidency and other state institutions. His stance was clear: “I want strong CEOs, strong ministers, a highly capable Prime Minister. I don’t want to be the type […]

In a recent analysis titled “Mali: anatomy of a security earthquake”, the Timbuktu Institute, an African research center for peace based in Dakar, shed light on the strategic failures plaguing Mali’s security apparatus. Published on May 13, the report examines the coordinated attacks of April 25, which resulted in the death of Defense Minister General […]

Senegal’s debt strategy: exploring alternatives beyond IMF support The mounting public debt in Senegal has once again thrust the nation’s financial trajectory into sharp focus. In Dakar, policymakers, economists, and business leaders are actively exploring innovative financing avenues and debt restructuring options that extend beyond traditional reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This strategic […]

Recent debates in Senegal have centered on a pivotal question: Is the current political climate a sign of institutional crisis or the dawn of a democratic rebirth? The stakes are far greater than individual power struggles—they strike at the very core of how governance functions in the country. The latest analysis from Abdou Fall, Nasser […]

Mali crisis: strategic stakes and shifting alliances in the Sahel Since 2012, Mali has been grappling with a deep multidimensional crisis that has reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Sahel. The gradual erosion of central state authority has given rise to territorial fragmentation, where armed groups and foreign powers compete for influence. Long a cornerstone […]

The notion of citizen power in Senegal has taken center stage following the historic 2024 presidential election that brought Bassirou Diomaye Faye to power. Yet, as the dust settles on this democratic milestone, critical questions emerge about the sustainability of this civic awakening. The abandonment of direct citizen access to the Constitutional Court—despite its inclusion […]

The industrialisation of Côte d’Ivoire has emerged as a critical conversation following a high-level press breakfast held in Abidjan-Plateau on May 8, 2026. Paul-Harry Aithnard, Regional Director of UEMOA and CEO of Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire, delivered a compelling argument for accelerated industrial development, positioning it as the only pathway to transform the nation into a […]

Togo’s political landscape underwent a transformative and deeply divisive period in 2005, an era that continues to resonate within the national consciousness. While some commentators portray this juncture as the dawn of a ‘renewal,’ numerous international assessments and the poignant narratives of victims unveil a starkly different reality: a regime solidified through brutal suppression, disproportionately […]

In partnership with national coalitions representing defenders in Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, and Niger, ISHR has launched a new collection of best practices. This initiative is dedicated to the protection of human rights defenders and provides essential support for their mission during emergency situations. The impact of restrictive measures on civic space […]

Opinion Mali’s security challenges: vital lessons for Ghana and West Africa The recent coordinated jihadist attacks in Mali are not an isolated Sahelian crisis. What these events reveal about reliance on external security carries direct and urgent implications for Ghana and the broader West African region. The coordinated insurgent attacks that swept across Mali on […]