- On 15 January, militants from the Islamist extremist group Al-Mourabitoune seized the Splendid Hotel and attacked a nearby restaurant and second hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso . 28 people were killed and 50 were left wounded. For more detailed information on the latest conflict developments, please see our slide: Updates on the conflict
- The January Sahel Watch newsletter is out! Click here to subscribe.
- The construction of cantonment sites, an important next step in the DDR process, was launched on 30 December when construction started in Likrakar and Fafa in the Timbuktu and Gao regions.
- A series of new local peace agreements were signed in Anefis. For more detailed information on the peace process, please see our slide: Updates on the peace process.
- Amagoin Keita reacts to Marije Balt’s discussion of youth employment and insecurity by arguing that decentralization needs to be taken to the community level.
- Michel Luntumbue discusses Boko Haram’s regional expansion.
- Tone Sommerfelt, Anne Hatløy and Kristin Jesnes write about the fear of Wahhabists in Malian society.
- Souleymane Adoum and Jonna Both analyze the importance of Chad’s regional counterterrorism efforts and what this means for governance reform in the country.
- Kristof Titeca writes about the framing of violent armed groups and what this tells us about African regional politics.
- Have a look at our detailed explanation of who is who among the armed groups, featuring an infographic detailing their historical development.
- Our interactive map is updated each month! It tracks violent incidents throughout Mali.
- Also have a look at our interactive resource list, it is updated periodically with the latest literature and reports used in the Sahel Watch programme and suggested by our expert contributors.
- What do Malian’s think about their government and UN’s involvement? In the “Mali Metre” opinion polls, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung gathered responses in Gao, Kidal and Ménaka.
- In north Mali, local business elites cooperate with rebel groups to maintain control of trafficking routes from other Tuareg rebels. This NOREF report sheds light on the socioeconomic dynamics at the micro level of Mali’s conflict.