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African Networks Lab

Tag: Sahel

In the Sahel and Iran, chokepoints are essential instruments of power

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a road in Ouagadougou

Control over infrastructure has become a key factor in armed conflicts. In the West African Sahel as in the Persian Gulf, political power depends on the ability to control flows rather than territories. The Strait of Hormuz’s strategic significance, like that of the Sahelian road network, accumulated through decades of global energy infrastructure. Today, those […]

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Insurgent mobility and state fortification in West Africa

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excavator

Conflict in West Africa is shaped by a struggle between mobile insurgents and states whose power depends on territorial control. While insurgents exploit speed and rural fluidity to expand their reach, states retreat into fortified towns and military enclaves. Mobile space theory can help explain this recurring spatial pattern. By Olivier Walther, 5/6/2026. The fortification […]

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The resurgence of fortified landscapes in West Africa

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checkpoint in africa

West African states respond to insurgencies by building city walls and fortifying borders. These initiatives aimed at controlling the movement of jihadist groups are a double-edged sword. While they provide short-term protection, they can also deepen rural insecurity and civilian vulnerability. By Olivier Walther and Steven M. Radil, 4/28/2026. The new fortresses In August 2024, militants […]

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