The G5 Sahel Security College was inaugurated on 16 September in Bamako during a meeting chaired by Salif Traoré, the Malian minister in charge of internal security and civic protection. The college aims to train security forces and build a network of people involved in security activities, inclduing police agents, judges, religious authorities and civil society leader. Four dedicated training centres focus on military intelligence (Chad), border security (Niger), criminal police (Burkina Faso) and training services (Mauritania). Read on

Food security experts met from 12-14 September in Lomé to analyse the ongoing agro-pastoral campaign and harvest forecasts for 2019 in the Sahel and West Africa. With the exception of central and western areas of the Sahel, the food production forecast is overall average or good. Cereal production is estimated at about 66-73 million tonnes. This would be a 10-20% increase compared to the five-year average, thus much faster than the average population growth. Read on

The United Kingdom is increasing its diplomatic presence in the Sahel and intends to scale-up its development assistance. During her three-day visit to Africa, UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced the UK government would open embassies in Chad and Niger. The embassy in Mali will also be expanded. By 2019, the UK intends to support up to 2.5 million people to avoid the worst effects of drought and insecurity and support up to 2.3 million people with food assistance. Read on

The Togolese capital hosted a series of important events for West Africa’s regional organisations. UEMOA leaders met on 30 July 2018 for the 20th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government. Just after the UEMOA summit, ECOWAS leaders gathered for their 53rd Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government. President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria was nominated as new ECOWAS chairperson. The joint ECOWAS-ECCAS summit was held on 30 July and focused on the security situation in West and Central Africa. Heads of state adopted the Lomé Declaration to collaborate on peace, security and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in the ECOWAS-ECCWAS space. Read on