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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.

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