The Sahel lacks responsive and effective governance. Stakeholders should invest more in intelligence-gathering and early warning systems. It is easier to prevent a violent conflict than to resolve one. Crime and violent conflict have become the mainstay of many trigger-happy youth who are forced to provide basic infrastructures for their families and communities due to governance failures.
On October 6, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) lifted the sanctions on Mali, to the relief of Malians and the leadership of the conflict-ravaged country. Despite the traditional pessimism about ECOWAS, it successfully mobilised against the military incursion into power in Mali. The ECOWAS mediation team to Mali, led by the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, had no time to celebrate as his country, Nigeria, soon became embroiled in protests against the administration of his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari.
...