Conflict Networks in North and West Africa
Conflicts in North and West Africa have become more violent and widespread than in the past. They have also become more difficult to resolve due to the complex relationships between a growing number of belligerents with diverging agendas. Building on a dataset of more than 36 000 violent events over a 23‑year period and three case studies (Lake Chad, Central Sahel and Libya), this report maps conflict networks and the evolution of rivalries and alliances in 21 North and West African countries. It applies an innovative approach, Dynamic Social Network Analysis, to explain the types and evolution of relationships across actors in conflict. Finally, the report analyses the impact of military interventions on the re‑composition of violent groups and the shifting nature of insecurity. This new analysis, based on temporal and spatial approaches contributes to the creation of strategies that will ensure long‑term political stability and serves as a reminder that there is a need for co‑ordinated regional approaches and place‑based policies.
Also available in: French
Violent organisations in conflict in North and West Africa
This chapter examines the relationships between state and non-state actors within armed conflicts in Africa. These relations are an important part of the complexity of conflict within the region but remain poorly understood. The first section of the chapter shows that violent non-state organisations involved in conflicts are quite diverse when it comes to their objectives, legal status and visibility. The internal structure of each organisation can also vary tremendously: while some organisations favour a centralised structure in which decisions and resources flow from top to bottom, other organisations tend to be structured around decentralised and autonomous cells. The second section shows that significant volatility in Africa characterises the relationships between these organisations. Non-state violent actors dedicate a meaningful portion of their energy and resources to competing with each other instead of exclusively targeting the state. Alliances between them are rarer despite their obvious benefits in terms of co-ordination, resources and exchange of information. Rivalries between such groups are shaped by ideology, access to resources and political leverage, and divergences on the use of violence against civilians, among other factors.
Also available in: French
- Click to access:
-
Click to download PDF - 446.09KBPDF