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This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies challenges the conventional narrative that youth unemployment and religious fanaticism are the primary drivers of young people joining armed jihadist groups in Mali. Based on interviews with 63 previously involved youths, the study identifies a complex interplay of 15 different factors—including protection, coercion, and state absence—and argues that generic 'radicalisation' frameworks often miss the local realities of engagement.

This policy brief evaluates the capacity-building efforts of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), specifically regarding the Malian police. Based on field research from May 2014, the authors argue that the mission is struggling due to inadequate deployment in northern Mali, a lack of logistical infrastructure, and a decline in local popularity. The brief recommends a more holistic approach to capacity-building that moves beyond individual training to include institutional support and confidence-building measures to restore trust between the population and state security forces.

This briefing discusses the challenges facing Mali following the August 2013 presidential election of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. It outlines the need for security reforms in the north, the implementation of the Preliminary Ouagadougou Agreement, the organization of parliamentary elections, and the execution of a sustainable economic recovery plan supported by international donors.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the 18 June 2013 Preliminary Agreement for the Presidential Election and Inclusive Peace Talks in Mali, the challenges facing the July 2013 presidential elections, and the transition of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) into the United Nations Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).

The June 2013 Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides detailed analysis of security crises in Somalia and Mali, evaluates the outcomes of the May 2013 AU Summit, and identifies early warning issues across Africa.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political economy and organizational structures of armed groups in northern Mali, specifically Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar al-Dine, and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA). It details how these groups utilize a 'war economy' based on kidnapping for ransom and the taxation of illicit trafficking to fund their operations and gain local support in the absence of state presence.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the criminal justice system and national security policies in Mali. It details the legal framework for fighting crime, the structure of the judiciary, the challenges of prison management, and the transition toward a 'human security' approach in national security governance.