Niger has one of the world's youngest population. Its total population is estimated at 24.2 million people in 2020 of which about half are under 15 years of age. Read on
Niger is heading towards its first transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents since gaining independence in 1960. Outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, in power since 2011, has honoured his promise not to seek a third term. However, this change in power does not represent a major change as the outgoing president had designated Mohamed Bazoum as his successor. Read on
Co-ordination was once again at the heart of the discussions at an ECOWAS high-level meeting, held on 17-18 February 2020 in Niamey, aimed at addressing the difficult food and nutrition situation in the Sahel and West Africa. In the spirit of the PREGEC Charter, participants assessed the response capacities at country, regional and partner level, and agreed on procedures to ensure effective co-ordination. Read on
This SWAC/OECD study maps the evolution of violence across North and West Africa, with a particular focus on Mali, Lake Chad and Libya. The work is based on a new spatial indicator of political violence designed to assess the long-term evolution of conflicts and provide policy options. It calls upon the region’s states and the international community to promote regional initiatives to restore state legitimacy, increase investment in border regions and better protect civilians. Read on
The eight UEMOA member countries are experiencing a fast rate of urban growth. In 2015, some 42 million UEMOA citizens or 38% of the Union’s population lived in one of the region’s 738 urban agglomerations compared to less than 5% in 1950. With the exception of Guinea-Bissau, the majority of people in UEMOA’s coastal countries are already urban dwellers (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo). Read on
The eight UEMOA member countries are experiencing a fast rate of urban growth. In 2015, some 42 million UEMOA citizens or 38% of the Union’s population lived in one of the region’s 738 urban agglomerations compared to less than 5% in 1950. With the exception of Guinea-Bissau, the majority of people in UEMOA’s coastal countries are already urban dwellers (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo). Read on
The food sector, which comprises agriculture, food processing, food marketing and food-away-from-home, is a key pillar of all eight UEMOA economies. In 2020, the sector’s value is estimated at USD 43 billion or 30% of the Union’s GDP. By 2030, the UEMOA food economy is expected to more than double to reach USD 92 billion or 34% of the Union’s GDP. This unprecedented expansion occurs in a context of rapid urban development. Read on
The food sector, which comprises agriculture, food processing, food marketing and food-away-from-home, is a key pillar of all eight UEMOA economies. In 2020, the sector’s value is estimated at USD 43 billion or 30% of the Union’s GDP. By 2030, the UEMOA food economy is expected to more than double to reach USD 92 billion or 34% of the Union’s GDP. This unprecedented expansion occurs in a context of rapid urban development. Read on
About 3.8 million people were estimated to be in immediate need of assistance (phases 3-5) during October‑December 2019 in the eight UEMOA member countries, including 1.4 million in Niger, 1.2 million in Burkina Faso and 650 000 people in Mali. A large share of the population of Guinea‑Bissau is also food insecure (10.3% or 131 000 people). The number of people suffering from severe food insecurity has nearly tripled within the UEMOA area, compared to the same period in 2018. Read on
In the past decade, one third of the incidents of political violence that have caused casualties in the region have taken place within 50-km of a land border. Inhabitants of small and medium‑sized towns in the Lake Chad basin have been the main victims of this political violence. Read on