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Democracy in West Africa, and Africa in general, has been on a worrying decline in the last five years. The democracy index of the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) shows that democracy declined globally in 2019. The average score for Africa fell from 4.36 in 2018 to 4.26 in 2019, its worst score in over a decade.

In an attempt to address the needs of local human rights groups, this guidebook has been composed to guide local actors on the basic principles and best practices of upholding human rights. It is written for all those who put their lives on the line in their work to monitor, document, report and publicize human rights violations.

This special issue of West Africa Insight reflects on the challenges facing the media industry and offers some initial thoughts on how to overcome them. Mercy Abang looks at ways in which the Nigerian media can develop more sustainable and less dependent business models, without compromising independence and quality of production.

This edition of West Africa Insight reflect on the ways China is extending its influence across West Africa. Tobi Oshodi and James Barnett start by providing an overview and analysis of the role Confucius Institutes, of which there are now 15 in West Africa

This edition of West Africa Insight reflect on the ways China is extending its influence across West Africa. Tobi Oshodi and James Barnett start by providing an overview and analysis of the role Confucius Institutes, of which there are now 15 in West Africa, are playing in support of China's soft power agenda in the region.

The days when COVID-19 was only a distant threat to West African countries are over. It is now evident that the virus is here to stay and must be addressed with practical responses that take into account the West African settings.

The security crisis in the Sahel is spiralling as unprecedented waves of violence surge across the region. The United Nations figures have revealed a five fold increase in the number of attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger since 2016.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) pursues the promotion of good governance, peace and security and free, fair and credible elections in member states through a combination of direct involvement and diplomacy.

The invalidation of about thirty results of the March-April legislative elections by the Constitutional Court triggered series of violent demonstrations to express dissatisfaction by citizens and as a result, an awakening of crisis in the political scene of Mali

Based on its analysis of elections conducted so far in West Africa during the current pandemic, the Centre for Democracy and Development outlines the following considerations to guide the conduct of elections under the pandemic:

This edition of West Africa Insight will look ahead to key issues and events set to play out in 2019. In February two of the region’s countries will hold presidential elections. Voters will cast their ballots on 16 February in Nigeria.

This journal comprises several articles on various subjects. In the first article on page 3: Taking on Gnassingbé, Africa's Last Strongmen, Wolali Ahlijah takes us inside the protest that begun in August 2017 to understand how they are continuing to face up to the repressive response of the state with help of social media and a more unified message.

Osun State was carved out of the old Oyo State on August 27, 1991, by the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida. The first democratically elected Governor of the State, Isiaka Adeleke, took office in January 1992 and governed till November 1993, when the military junta of Babangida dissolved all political offices, after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, Presidential election.

UN habita predicts that before 2050, the total urban population in Africa will grow from the current estimate of 400 million to in excess of 1.26 billion. By 2030 the urban population of West Africa will range from 46.2%(Guinea) to 63.1% (Ivory Coast); percentages which firmly place half of the region's population in currently, under served and overstretched cities.

This journal comprises several articles. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has to decide whether Morocco's application to join should be accepted or thrown out. Jibrin Ibrahim in his article 'Morocco and ECOWAS

This journal comprises several articles. The first article on page 4 is titled: Biafran Separatist Agitations in Nigeria: Causes, trajectories, scenarios and the way forward by Prof. Jideofor Adibe discusses the causes of the civil war in the Republic of Biafra, Nigeria after the coup in July 1966 and the subsequent rise of the separatist movement.

In Burkina Faso, community run security forces known as Koglweogo have been working at a local level to prevent and punish crime, from theft to armed attack.

Briefly taking stock of the pertinent theoretical literature on democratic transitions, civil military relations, identity conflict, and the merit of focusing on the role of individual leaders, this study comparatively examines and evaluates their legacy on two of Mauritania's enduring challenges:

This policy brief outlines contributions from stakeholders and demonstrates how dialogue can help foster community understanding of government intervention on reintegration, foster citizenship ownership of government programmes and its many solutions, improve Operation Safe Corridor's credibility and assist the government in creating conditions that will reduce Nigeria's susceptibility to future violent extremism.

This Briefing note recommends a multi-sectoral approach to ending the Boko Haram insurgency and recognises the several issues driving the insurgency.