Article
- +3
Frederic Wehrey, Nathan J. Brown, Bader Al-Saif, …
{
"authors": [
"Anouar Boukhars"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "MEP",
"programs": [
"Middle East"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"North Africa"
],
"topics": [
"Democracy",
"Security",
"Military"
]
}
Source: Getty
In The Media
Overcoming the Barriers to Regional Security Cooperation in West Africa and the Sahel
The need for a more cooperative regional context in the Sahel and West Africa has never been as pressing, but in order for key players to harness their catalytic power, the region’s leaders must do better domestically.
Published on May 30, 2017
Source: World Politics Review
Crises and upheaval in the Sahel and West Africa have altered the regional security terrain. Challenges that were once disparate and manageable are increasingly becoming intertwined and more pronounced. With the growing mobility of conflicts, the need for a more cooperative regional context has never been as pressing. Each country in the region has a stake in improving stability, and collectively they have the capacity to tackle the threats to peace and security—but first, they each must overcome a host of domestic obstacles.
The influence of four countries in particular—Morocco, Algeria, Chad and Nigeria—is a central fact of geopolitics in West Africa and the Sahel. For good or ill, their domestic structures, power capabilities, threat perceptions and strategic outlooks illustrate the potentials and pitfalls of their roles in boosting regional security and cooperation. When they fall into hard times—political stasis, economic turmoil or internal violence—their neighbors bear the brunt of their difficulties.Nigeria and Algeria are examples of regional powers that perform well below their potential; Chad, by contrast, is a single-dimensional military power that punches well above its weight. Despite significant governance and developmental deficits, Chad has emerged as a critical player in the fight against violent extremism. And of the four powers, Morocco has demonstrated the centrality of soft power as a complement to hard power—in strengthening both counterterrorism measures and regional cohesion more broadly...
About the Author
Anouar Boukhars
Former Nonresident Fellow, Middle East Program
Boukhars was a nonresident fellow in Carnegie’s Middle East Program. He is a professor of countering violent extremism and counter-terrorism at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University.
- Islamic Authority and Arab States in a Time of Pandemic
- A Different Type of AllianceCommentary
Anouar Boukhars
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- The EU Equivocating on Turkey Is Bad GeopoliticsCommentary
Following Ursula von der Leyen’s gaffe equating Turkey to Russia and China, relations with Ankara risk deteriorating even further. Without better, more consistent diplomatic messaging, how can the EU pretend to be a geopolitical power?
Sinan Ülgen
- What Does Nuclear Proliferation in East Asia Mean for Russia?Commentary
Troubled by the growing salience of nuclear debates in East Asia, Moscow has responded in its usual way: with condemnation and threats. But by exacerbating insecurity, Russia is forcing South Korea and Japan to consider radical security options.
James D.J. Brown
- The Coming of Age of India’s Nuclear TriadCommentary
The induction of INS Aridhaman, which features several technological enhancements, now gives India the third nuclear ballistic missile submarine to ensure continuous at-sea deterrent.
Dinakar Peri
- Is Opposition to Online Restrictions an Inflection Point for the Russian Regime?Commentary
After four years of war, there is no one who can stand up to the security establishment, and President Vladimir Putin is increasingly passive.
Tatiana Stanovaya
- The New Revolution in Military AffairsArticle
How Ukraine is driving doctrinal change in modern warfare.
Andriy Zagorodnyuk
