Sahelian militias aid and undercut peace prospects
Monday, April 26, 2021
Significance
The targeting of these civilian vigilantes highlights the centrality of community-based, often ethnically aligned, government-backed militias in the Sahel’s various conflicts. While such groups are often credited with improving security for exposed communities, they are frequently accused of human rights abuses.
Impacts
- Militias are likely to remain integral to the Sahel's tri-border zone’s conflicts for the foreseeable future.
- Militias and vigilantes are key actors in ‘information wars’, especially given contestation over unclaimed attacks and abuse allegations.
- Militia control or sway over certain areas complicates access challenges for humanitarians.