Mouvement national de libération de l’Azawad – Fact Sheet (Julia Dufour)

The activities of various types of armed groups in West Africa represent a tremendous threat to the region’s stability, and hence require our utmost attention. These groups use violence for multiple purposes: religious fundamentalism, rebellion against the state, separatism... This datasheet considers the MNLA, one of the most active among them. It aims to provide information about the historical and ideological foundations of this Malian separatist movement, active since the beginning of 2012. It focuses on its complex structural organization and its goals. The most recent actions of this armed group are listed as well as its armament and its operation zone. This datasheet is part of a series of fact sheets published by the GRIP on armed groups in West Africa.

Monitoring of Regional Stability in the Sahel Region and in West Africa - Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal (Julia Dufour)

This quarterly monitoring is part of a 3 years project (2011-2013) on “Improving human security, conflict prevention and strengthening the rule of law in eight countries in West and Central Africa” funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

It aims to monitor the security situation in West Africa with a focus on Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger and Senegal, and other countries of the region depending on the news (Nigeria for this trimester notably). It examines in particular issues related to regional tensions, terrorism and cross-border trafficking, production and transfer of arms and cooperation mechanisms in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime.

What are the accomplishments of the 2010 franco-british cooperation? (Guillaume Goessens)

In November 2010, the conclusion of the two treaties between France and the United Kingdom sparked numerous suspicious reactions in Europe. This article is led by a double question. More than one year after they have been concluded, what are the achievements of the treaties in terms of cooperation? Do the accomplishments allow to have a better view of their impact on the European Security and Defence Policy? Without jumping to conclusions, it is already obvious that the progress is tenuous because of several technical and political obstacles. While the operation in Libya highlighted the European shortage in military means, a strict bilateral cooperation among the two European states is more than ever questionable. In an era where the world is in permanent mutation, a deeper European political integration seems to be necessary.