Final Report: Drivers of Violent Extremism in the Liptako-Gourma Region

The region is shared by Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, and is characterized by a mix of ethnic and linguistic groups, with a strong tradition of transhumance and trade. The region's geography and borders have been shaped by the colonial era, with the French and British empires dividing the territory into separate territories. The region has been plagued by violent extremism, with several armed groups operating in the area, including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGA), and the Macina Liberation Front (MLF). These groups have been responsible for numerous attacks on civilians, including bombings, kidnappings, and massacres. The drivers of violent extremism in the Liptako-Gourma region are complex and multifaceted. At the regional level, the factors driving violent extremism include poor governance, corruption, and corruption in the security sector. The region's borders are porous, and the lack of effective border control has allowed armed groups to move freely across the region. At the national level, the factors driving violent extremism include the failure of the states to implement effective policies to address the root causes of the conflict. The states' lack of control and minimal presence in remote areas have created a power vacuum that has been exploited by armed groups. The region's economic and social drivers, including poverty, unemployment, and unemployment, have also contributed to the spread of violent extremism. The sub-national level is characterized by a mix of local and national push and pull factors. The local push factors include poor governance, corruption, and corruption in the security sector. The local pull factors include the use of religious rhetoric to provide legitimacy to the armed groups, and the provision of services by the armed groups where the state fails. The desk study reveals that the factors driving violent extremism in the Liptako-Gourma region are complex and multifaceted. The study identifies several key findings, including: * The vulnerability of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to violent extremism is rooted in the three states' failure to successfully implement decentralization policies throughout their countries. * The states' lack of control and minimal presence in remote areas has created a power vacuum that has been exploited by armed groups. * Security abuses, poor public services, and corruption are recurring factors identified by people in the Liptako-Gourma region for their resistance to cooperate with the state. * A biased version of religious rhetoric is used to provide legitimacy to the armed groups on social and political injustices, but this does not constitute a major factor in getting people to join violent extremist organizations. The study also identifies several key recommendations for development projects under the Sahel Development Partnership (SDP) to address the challenges of countering violent extremism in the region. These recommendations include: * Strengthening the capacity of local authorities to provide services and address the root causes of the conflict. * Improving the security sector to address the root causes of the conflict and prevent the spread of violent extremism. * Addressing the economic and social drivers of violent extremism, including poverty, unemployment, and unemployment. * Promoting a more inclusive and participatory approach to development, including the involvement of local communities and civil society organizations. Overall, the desk study provides a comprehensive analysis of the drivers of violent extremism in the Liptako-Gourma region, and identifies several key recommendations for development projects under the SDP to address the challenges of countering violent extremism in the region.