Enduring insecurity: Mali, Sudan, and international implications - SANA event

Submitted by Lionel Kosirnik on 18 July, 2023

On 17 July 2023, the Small Arms Survey's Security Assessment in North Africa (SANA) project hosted an event during which SANA experts Holger Anders and Jalel Harchaoui gave updates on the situations in Mali and Sudan. Holger Anders focused on the current security situation in Mali and discussed the country’s future, while Jalel Harchaoui examined the Sudan-Libya connection and its new ramifications since April 2023.

Violent Extremism Could Beckon in North-western Nigeria if Local Dynamics Are Ignored

Submitted by Lionel Kosirnik on 5 December, 2022

'In January 2022, in a bid to stem a tide of violent attacks and kidnappings in north-western Nigeria, the government labelled the armed groups involved in the violence as "terrorists". The relationship between these groups and the internationally designated terrorist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province in north-eastern Nigeria was unclear. But the decision illustrated growing concern that violent extremism might spread to the country's north-west. It also raised questions about the types of measures that were needed to prevent escalation of violence...'

Arms Trade to Africa Can Be Opaque: Why This is Dangerous

Submitted by Lionel Kosirnik on 9 February, 2022

'Eolika, a Guyana-flagged cargo vessel, had already been detained in the port of Senegalese capital, Dakar due to 'inconsistent' declarations. Authorities in the West African nation then searched the ship, seizing three containers of Italian manufactured ammunition worth an estimated US$5 million. According to initial accounts, port authorities in La Spezia authorised the shipment, which was reportedly headed to the Dominican Republic.

SANA Expert Briefing series—Webinar 6: SANA Phase III Concluding Panel Discussion

Submitted by Lionel Kosirnik on 7 October, 2021

The Security Assessment in North Africa (SANA) Expert Briefings are a 5-part webinar series that is taking place (almost) every Tuesday from 11 May until 15 June 2021 at 2pm Geneva time. Each live webinar briefing features one of our SANA experts addressing contemporary security issues in North Africa and Sahel-Sahara region, and reflecting on the questions received from the audience.

SANA Expert Briefing series—Webinar 5: Jihadist Groups and Insecurity in Burkina Faso (in French/en français)

Submitted by Lionel Kosirnik on 15 September, 2021

The Security Assessment in North Africa (SANA) Expert Briefings are a 5-part webinar series that is taking place (almost) every Tuesday from 11 May until 15 June 2021 at 2pm Geneva time. Each live webinar briefing features one of our SANA experts addressing contemporary security issues in North Africa and Sahel-Sahara region, and reflecting on the questions received from the audience. The webinars particularly focus on security-related issues in North and West Africa, Chad, Morocco, Libya, and Burkina Faso.

SANA Expert Briefing series—Webinar 4: Morocco's Foreign Policy

Submitted by Lionel Kosirnik on 15 September, 2021

The Security Assessment in North Africa (SANA) Expert Briefings are a 5-part webinar series that is taking place (almost) every Tuesday from 11 May until 15 June 2021 at 2 pm Geneva time. Each live webinar briefing features one of our SANA experts addressing contemporary security issues in North Africa and Sahel-Sahara region, and reflecting on the questions received from the audience.

Déby’s Spring Fall: How an Unlikely Rebellion Toppled Chad’s Dictator

Submitted by Lionel Kosirnik on 15 September, 2021

'The first time I saw Idriss Déby was in 2014 at the first Dakar Forum, the now yearly event organized by the French Defence Ministry in Senegal’s capital to strengthen ties with African allies, in particular the-then brand new G5-Sahel coalition (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger) in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel.

Profil haut: l’analyse balistique en action

Submitted by Lionel Kosirnik on 15 September, 2021

'Au printemps 2020, je me suis rendu à Conakry, en Guinée, pour présenter, en marge d’une conférence, les résultats d’une étude sur le monitoring des armes à feu en Guinée. À cette occasion, j’avais prévu de rester sur place pour dispenser à l’équipe de l’unité régionale de police scientifique de la gendarmerie un module de formation à la balistique judiciaire. La pandémie de COVID-19 en a décidé autrement, et m’a amené à donner à distance cette formation sur laquelle je reviendrai plus en détail...'