Violent Actors and Transformation of Conflict

• Lisa Tschörner

Came to Stay: Niger’s Military Junta Consolidates its Power

• German

One year after the coup, the Nigerien military junta is firmly in the saddle. In this Spotlight, Lisa Tschörner explains how the new rulers are mobilizing the population, staging a successful defence against threats, and expanding partnerships with authoritarian states in order to secure their power.  

• Gerrit Kurtz

How (Not) to Talk About the War in Sudan

• German

Reporting about the war in Sudan is clouded by three oversimplified narratives – “forgotten conflict”, “war of two generals” and the “proxy war” classification. Gerrit Kurtz (SWP) calls for a more nuanced phrasing by journalists and policymakers.

• Folashadé Soulé

What Role for External Security Partnerships in Coastal West African States?

In the face of a growing threat of jihadism from the Sahel, this brief investigates how Ghana, Benin, and Togo respond, diversifying security ties beyond traditional allies. Amidst expanding networks and complex regional arrangements, this brief calls for an integrated security cooperation and urges coherence in countering the jihadist threat in the Sahel.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB25

• Download (PDF) | 276 KB

• Hannah Rae Armstrong

Women in Peace Talks: Lessons Learned from Mali

The integration of women leaders into Mali’s peace process between 2020 and 2022 was superficial, belated, and steeped in controversy. But it was a rare case in which women war-makers and mediators could influence high-level peace talks. Today, the Malian experience yields important lessons for mediators and policymakers.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB23

• Download (PDF) | 223 KB

• Tanguy Quidelleur

Arming Civilians in Burkina Faso

Since 2016, jihadists affiliated with JNIM and ISGS have spread across Burkina Faso, offering resources and protection to marginalized areas while expelling state officials. This has fueled violence, reignited communal rivalries, and routinised armed mobilizations, as the use of weapons increasingly became a commonplace social practice.

doi:10.18449/2024MTA-PB22

• Download (PDF) | 325 KB

• Lisa Tschörner

Background and Consequences of the Military Coup in Niger

• German

Niger was considered the last anchor of stability in the Sahel until 26 July 2023. Then the Western-trained army seized power - and has the support of much of the population. Tensions over the security crisis and the government's lack of legitimacy facilitated the coup and contributed to its success.

doi:10.18449/2023MTA-PB20

• Download (PDF) | 259 KB