Insecurity in the remote border regions of the Sahel stems from several factors, including porous borders, weak state capacity, illicit trafficking of arms, drugs, and people, and the presence of armed extremist Islamist groups. The fall of Libya’s Col. Gadhafi in 2011 exacerbated these issues, triggering a chain of events that heightened conflict and insecurity in the Sahel and Sahara regions.
This instability led to a breakdown of trust and communication between communities—both nomadic and sedentary—and local border authorities and security providers.
CICR Involvement
In 2016, CICR was engaged by the Danish Demining Group (DDG) to support its Border Security and Management (BSM) program in the Sahel region, which covers Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The BSM program focuses on reducing armed violence, improving community safety, and enhancing border security and management in the Liptako-Gourma region through a comprehensive border management approach.
As part of the BSM initiative, DDG identifies sources of conflict in border areas and collaborates with security providers at both local and national levels to prevent and manage conflicts. This includes promoting dialogue and information sharing between communities and authorities and strengthening local conflict resolution mechanisms.
In September 2016, CICR contributed to this program by providing specialized training and support to DDG staff, aimed at enhancing their skills in conflict resolution and dialogue facilitation.
Key Activities Delivered by CICR
Training in Conflict Resolution and Group Facilitation: CICR conducted a two-week training program for 26 DDG staff from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The training focused on equipping participants with the tools and techniques needed to manage conflicts and facilitate group dialogues effectively.
Coaching and Mentoring: CICR offered ongoing support to participants as they organized and facilitated large group dialogue processes in their respective regions.
Program Development Support: CICR facilitated reflective sessions to help DDG staff incorporate learning into their programming. This included adapting existing activities, designing new initiatives, and improving the monitoring and evaluation of conflict management outcomes.
The impact of CICR’s training resonated deeply with participants, who shared their experiences:
Garba, Project Officer:
“The TPN training is so vital that all nations should integrate it into their national education systems.”
Housseini, Program Manager:
“I felt among my colleagues that this training not only strengthened team cohesion but also motivated us to serve target communities with renewed commitment. The facilitators’ human qualities and technical expertise were truly inspiring.”
Gerard, Armed Violence Reduction Field Advisor:
“This training was extremely beneficial. I realized that mediation tools and techniques are not just for our professional activities but can be applied daily—at work, within the family, and even in relationships.”
Through its involvement in the Sahel region, CICR has played a crucial role in building local capacity to address conflicts effectively. By empowering communities and fostering collaboration, CICR has contributed to safer, more resilient border regions in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
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