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This introductory report provides a geographic, environmental, and political overview of Mali, detailing its climate challenges, history of military coups, and shifting international alliances, including its withdrawal from ECOWAS to form the Confederation of Sahel States.

This research paper provides an introduction to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), detailing its founding mandate, member state composition, natural resource endowments, and the current geopolitical and developmental challenges facing the region.

This research paper analyzes the rapid growth and tactical evolution of the Islamic State–Sahel Province (IS-SP) between 2019 and 2026. It details how IS-SP has transitioned from a small affiliate to a deadly regional force through structural governance, tactical innovations—including the first use of drones in Niger—and increased strategic guidance from IS Core. The document highlights the collapse of regional security architectures and the escalating rivalry between IS-SP and the al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM as primary drivers of instability in the Sahel.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the collapse of multilateralism in the Sahel, focusing on how military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have led to the formation of the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) and a strategic pivot away from Western-led institutions toward partners like Russia and China.

This research paper conclusion argues that African nations must prioritize domestic food security, smallholder farming, and sustainable practices over international exports to drive economic growth and reduce poverty. It emphasizes the role of AgTech, irrigation, and political leadership in overcoming systemic barriers such as credit scarcity and climate change risks.

A policy brief detailing the rapid expansion of the Islamic State–Sahel Province (IS-SP) between 2019 and 2026. It highlights a significant increase in manpower, the adoption of structured governance in Mali, and the first use of combat drones in a January 2026 attack on Niamey's airport. The report attributes this growth to the collapse of regional security following coups in the Sahel, rivalry with al-Qaeda's JNIM, and strategic guidance from IS Core.

This research paper introduction from the Institute for Security Studies provides an overview of the current global climate crisis, highlighting record-breaking temperatures in 2024, the increasing frequency of weather-related disasters, and the rising scale of climate-induced displacement. It emphasizes the gap between current policies and the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, while noting the persistent rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

This report section analyzes the impact of commodity dependence on African economies, detailing the 'resource curse' where heavy reliance on raw material exports correlates with poor governance, political corruption, and slow economic growth. It contrasts the development trajectories of resource-rich and resource-poor nations and discusses the role of sovereign wealth funds and the global energy transition in shaping future demand.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the disproportionate impact of climate change on Africa, detailing the frequency of climate-related disasters, the vulnerability of populations due to socio-economic factors, and the resulting threats to food security, health, and regional stability.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines how Africa's health and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) trajectories will impact global development, security, and economic stability. It highlights the potential for a demographic dividend if health outcomes improve, while warning that fragile health systems and climate-linked vulnerabilities could increase global pandemic risks and drive migration toward Europe and the Middle East.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines two primary policy responses to climate change in Africa: carbon sequestration through forest regeneration and the implementation of a global carbon tax. It highlights the critical role of the Congo Basin as a carbon sink and analyzes four illustrative global carbon tax scenarios, concluding that a differentiated payment approach aligns best with international equity principles and the Paris Agreement.

This briefing examines how the United States and Nigeria are repurposing civilian policy instruments, specifically the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and civil aviation frameworks, to establish security and surveillance capabilities. By integrating decommissioned U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) equipment into Nigerian civilian infrastructure, the two nations are creating a "shared awareness" corridor that provides the functional capabilities of a virtual base without the political complications of formal military basing or treaties.

This policy brief advocates for treating water and sanitation as strategic assets to ensure peace, energy, and food security in Africa. It calls for the adoption of a Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus approach and Strategic Asset Management (SAM) to address a $1 trillion infrastructure gap by 2040. The brief emphasizes that water insecurity acts as a threat multiplier for conflict, particularly in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, and recommends integrating water governance into the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) to mitigate risks and promote regional stability.

The 'Déclaration du Sommet des Peuples vers la COP30' is a statement issued by a gathering of over 70,000 people from diverse social movements in Belém do Pará, Brazil, in November 2025. The document identifies the capitalist mode of production and transnational corporations as the primary drivers of the climate crisis and calls for a systemic transition based on popular sovereignty, feminist ethics, and the protection of common goods.

The 'Final declaration of the Peoples’ Summit towards COP30' is a statement issued by a gathering of over 70,000 people in Belém do Pará, Brazil, in November 2025. The document identifies the capitalist mode of production and transnational corporations as the primary drivers of the climate crisis and calls for a 'just, sovereign and popular transition' based on the recognition of common goods, ancestral knowledge, and feminist justice.

The 'Declaración de la Cumbre de los pueblos hacia la COP30' is a statement issued by the People's Summit, which gathered over 70,000 representatives of diverse social movements in Belém do Pará, Brazil, from November 12 to 16, 2025. The document identifies the capitalist mode of production and transnational corporations as the primary drivers of the climate crisis and calls for a transition based on popular sovereignty, feminist justice, and the protection of common goods rather than market-based solutions.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute critically examines the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), arguing that its perceived success in promoting democracy was based on a narrow focus on elections while ignoring broader governance failures. The author contends that ECOWAS's tendency to defer to the interests of heads of state has led to a loss of legitimacy among citizens, contributing to a wave of coups since 2020 and the subsequent formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

This report examines the potential for Direct Air Capture (DAC) and other carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies in Africa, with a particular focus on Kenya and the East African Rift region. It highlights the region's competitive advantages in geothermal energy and basaltic rock formations for permanent carbon storage, while outlining the technological, financial, and regulatory innovations needed to scale these systems.

This research paper analyzes the evolution of Nigeria's climate policy and governance, highlighting a persistent struggle with institutional fragmentation and the misalignment of petroleum policies with climate goals. It examines the transition through four 'policy moments,' the impact of International Oil Company (IOC) divestments, and the recent centralization of climate authority under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the creation of the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate (OSPEC) and the Presidential Climate Action Committee (PCAC).

This research paper analyzes Nigeria's climate policy and diplomacy, arguing that while the country has established a comprehensive policy architecture, its effectiveness is severely hampered by institutional fragmentation, inter-ministerial competition, and a lack of elite consensus. The author examines the shift toward centralized governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the challenges of aligning domestic petroleum interests with global energy transition goals.