In recent years, the Sahel region of Africa has experienced increasing levels of insecurity and instability. Violent extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) continuously target civilian populations and government institutions, and take advantage of porous borders to extend their attacks beyond national boundaries, notes the National Democratic Institute:
Countering extremist groups poses numerous difficulties for governments in the region, which now have to address the challenges of budgeting adequately for security and at the same time provide public services to their citizens. Some analysts see direct linkages between the risk of radicalization, especially among youth in marginalized communities, and poor public service delivery. Within this context, legislators play a significant role in exercising oversight over security services and other executive branch agencies, while at the same time creating opportunities for citizens to have their voices heard.
Join the National Democratic Institute (NDI – a core institute of the National Endowment for Democracy), the Institute for Representative Government (IRG) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for a panel discussion with key legislators from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger who will discuss country-specific approaches as well as regional responses to countering violent extremism and other cross-border security challenges in the Sahel region. The delegation is supported by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Citizen Exchanges.
Countering Violent Extremism in the Sahel: Perspectives from Members of Parliament from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger
Opening Remarks by Jennifer G. Cooke
Director of the Africa Program, CSIS
Moderated by Christopher Fomunyoh
Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa Programs, NDI.
Friday, November 17, 2017, 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Registration (coffee and pastries will be available): 9:00 – 9:30 AM
Program: 9:30 – 11:00 AM
National Democratic Institute, 8th Floor Boardroom,
455 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Please click here to register by November 15, 2017.
For any questions, please contact Besher Al Makhlouf (balmakhlouf@ndi.org).
