United Nations at 80: « Better Together »

This Tuesday, September 23, the 80th session of the UN General Assembly will open in New York. Its theme— »Better Together: More than 80 Years of Serving Peace, Development, and Human Rights »—is eminently laudable. It offers an opening in an international context no longer characterized by a Cold War, but rather by real, deadly wars—Gaza, Ukraine—between Europe and Russia, and between Israelis and Palestinians. In this unprecedented context, that wish— »Better Together »—constitutes a hope for ending wars and reviving belief in peace.

Read More

Sahel: the armed forces training?

Paul AMARA, Consultant, Center for Strategies for Sahel-Sahara Security, Centre4s.org

The complexity and the earnestness of the fight against terrorism in the Sahel have transformed this region into a vast market for military training. Often occurring in the wake of arms sales, these transfers respond to the objectives and rationales of Sahelian armies and supplier countries, whether African states or international partners. Proposals come primarily from Russia, the United States, China, European countries, Iran, Turkey, and Morocco. One of the main challenges is aligning these achievements with the overall defense strategy of the concerned countries. Assessing their impact on the effectiveness of Sahelian armies is a major challenge!

Read More

Sahel : the continued state deconstruction

Introduction par Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, president centre4s

In the Sahel, violent terrorism—now structural—and various forms of trafficking, including that of migrants, are linked structural realities. The agonizing Trans borders cooperation is dwindling. Deadly and also costly to national public finances, they now are protracted and a hallmark of the region’s identity! Several causes explain or stand behind these developments. All are linked to the fragility and porosity of national borders and, above all, to the now tribalistic nature of Sahel governments. More than ever, tribes and clans are at the helm, to the detriment of national unity and security.

Read More

Sahel: Increasing Number of Attacks

Paul AMARA, Center for Sahel-Sahara Security Strategies (Centre4s.org)

In May 2025, more than 400 soldiers were killed in similar attacks targeting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The epicenter is the so called ‘’three borders area’’ a jihadists heaven for several years. Explanations abound: a sudden breakdown of the strategic partnership with western powers, a lack of coordination in the fight against terrorism, financial burden of this fight, operational difficulties and military exhaustion, more efficient terrorists’ organization, importance of multiple trafficking routes financing various groups, etc. To cope with, some countries may be forced to request assistance from regional or continental organizations.

Read More

Sahel: the management of its migrants

Paul Amara, consultant, Centre for Strategies and Security for the Sahel Sahara (Centre4s.org)

Despite the deadly dangers associated with illegal migration between the two continents, many Sahelians attraction to Europe continues unabated. Figures for 2024 speak for themselves. Morocco thwarted 78,685 irregular migration attempts, and more than 30,000 Saharan migrants were expelled from Algeria to Niger. Senegalese police arrested 4,630 people for offenses directly related to migrants smuggling, whether by land, air, or sea. Approximately 16,500 Malians have managed to reach Europe irregularly, making Mali the main country of origin for migrants in 2024. Africans wishing to travel regularly to Europe face a Schengen visa application rejection rate of 43.1%, with 704,000 refusals recorded in 2023. Driven by the European Union, keen to keep migrants well away from its borders, Sahel countries appear, each, to be handling this issue at their national level. In most European countries, sub-Saharan immigrants represent an average of 0.4% of the population, compared to a 1.4% peak in France.

Read More