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ABSTRACT
The article evaluates the current worsening security situation in Burkina Faso and ties it to a lack of state-building in the country. Based on Tilly's approach to state-building, it, consequently, draws a set of recommendations aiming to strengthen the effectiveness of Burkinabe security forces as a primary step to stop the current wave of violence and establish more stable state institutions. These would become a first step of the process that is necessary to stabilise the situation in the region, enhance the Pillars of State, and allow the state institutions to overcome the militias. The article clearly states that foreign intervention and military solution only of the conflict cannot lead to a successful result. Burkina Faso needs to enhance institutional penetration throughout its territory to allow for the mitigation of the rebellions not only in this instance but also for the future and strengthen the state-building project.
Acknowledgment
This paper is an outcome of the Charles University Research Development Schemes, programme PROGRES Q18 - Social sciences: from multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary.
Notes
1 Tilly, ‘Reflections on the History of European State-Making.’
2 Doboš, ‘New Middle Ages.’
3 Jackson and Rosberg, ‘Why Africa’s Weak States Persist.’ Herbst, ‘The Creation and Maintenance of National Boundaries in Africa.’
4 Herbst, ‘States and Power in Africa.’
5 Doboš, ‘New Middle Ages.’
6 Kibora and Traore, ‘Towards Reforming the Burkinabé security system?’
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid.
9 Frère and Englebert, ‘Briefing,’ 305.
10 Powell, Chacha and Smith, ‘Failed Coups,’ 250–1.
11 Doboš, ‘New Middle Ages.’
12 Counter Extremism Project, ‘Burkina Faso: Extremism and Counter-Extremism.’
13 Acaps, ‘Burkina Faso: Conflict and Displacement.’
14 Counter Extremism Project, ‘Burkina Faso: Extremism and Counter-Extremism.’
15 Acaps, ‘Burkina Faso: Conflict and Displacement.’ Africa Portal, ‘Koglweogos.’ Leclercq and Matagne, ‘With or Without You.’
16 Counter Extremism Project, ‘Burkina Faso: Extremism and Counter-Extremism.’
17 Acaps, ‘Burkina Faso: Conflict and Displacement.’
18 Hansen, ‘Horn, Sahel and Rift,’ 65–98.
19 Acaps, ‘Migration in West and North Africa: Scenarios.’
20 Nsaibia, ‘Insecurity in Southwestern Burkina Faso in the Context of Expanding Insurgency.’
21 Acaps. ‘Migration in West and North Africa: Scenarios.’
22 Human Rights Watch, ‘By Day We Fear the Army, By Night the Jihadists.’
23 Acaps, ‘Burkina Faso: Conflict and Displacement.’
24 Reuters, ‘Dozens Die in Burkina as Sahel Conflict Spirals.’
25 Acaps, ‘Conflict and Displacement in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.’
26 Acaps, ‘Burkina Faso: Conflict and Displacement.’
27 Acaps, ‘Conflict and Displacement in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.’
28 United Nations, ‘Burkina Faso: Situation Report.’
29 Reuters, ‘Dozens Die in Burkina as Sahel Conflict Spirals.’
30 The Guardian, ‘Kalashnikovs and no-go zones.’
31 Ministerstvo zahraničních věcí ČR, ‘Burkina Faso.’
32 Schmitt, ‘Where Terrorism Is Rising in Africa and the U.S. Is Leaving.’
33 Nsaibia, ‘Insecurity in Southwestern Burkina Faso in the Context of Expanding Insurgency.’
34 Acaps, ‘Conflict and Displacement in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.’
35 Blake, ‘Terrorism Threatens a Former Oasis of Stability in West Africa.’
36 Acaps, ‘Conflict and Displacement in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.’
37 Ibid.
38 Ibid.
39 Blake, ‘Terrorism Threatens a Former Oasis of Stability in West Africa.’
40 European Commission, ‘Echo Daily Flash, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.’
41 Acaps, ‘Migration in West and North Africa: Scenarios.’
42 International Crisis Group, ‘Tackling Burkina Faso’s Insurgencies and Unrest.’
43 Blake, ‘Terrorism Threatens a Former Oasis of Stability in West Africa.’
44 Dwyer, ‘Peacekeeping Abroad.’
45 Acaps, ‘Conflict and Displacement in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.’
46 International Crisis Group, ‘Tackling Burkina Faso’s Insurgencies and Unrest.’
47 Paquette, ‘Burkina Faso Is Fighting for Democracy. Are the Terrorists Winning?’
48 Siegle and Cook, ‘Assessing Africa’s 2020 Elections.’
49 Herbst, ‘States and Power in Africa,’ 145–72.
50 Bah, ‘Democracy and Civil War.’
51 See Hansen, ‘Horn, Sahel and Rift,’ 99–126.
52 Blake, ‘Terrorism Threatens a Former Oasis of Stability in West Africa.’
53 Hentz, ‘Toward a Structural Theory of War in Africa.’
54 For a definition of a linchpin country see Cohen, ‘Geopolitics,’ 30.
55 Detailed analysis of the overthrow can be found in Frère and Englebert, ‘Briefing.’
56 International Crisis Group, ‘Tackling Burkina Faso’s Insurgencies and Unrest.’
57 Ibid.
58 Ibid.
59 Benedikter and Ouedraogo, ‘Saving West Africa from the Rise of Terrorism,’ 117–8.
60 Acaps, ‘Burkina Faso: Conflict and Displacement.’
61 Counter Extremism Project, ‘Burkina Faso: Extremism and Counter-Extremism.’
62 The Defense Post, ‘France and Mali Troops Kill 30 Militants in Major Counter-Terrorism Operation Near Burkina Faso Border.’
63 Schmitt, ‘Where Terrorism Is Rising in Africa and the U.S. Is Leaving.’
64 Chelin, ‘From the Islamic Emirate of Algeria.’
65 Global Policy Forum, ‘War on Terrorism.’
66 Turse and Naylor, ‘Revealed: The U.S. Military's 36 Code-Named Operations in Africa.’
67 See also Ouédraogo, ‘National Security Strategy Development.’
68 Kibora and Traore, ‘Towards Reforming the Burkinabé Security System?’
69 International Security Sector Advisory Team, ‘Burkina Faso.’
70 National Defense Policy of Burkina Faso, 2004.
71 Barlow, ‘Composite Warfare,’ 126.
72 Maclean and Zombre, ‘Burkina Faso Tightens Press Freedom Amid Security Crisis.’
73 Tchudin et al., ‘Extremism in Africa.’
74 Kibora and Traore, ‘Towards Reforming the Burkinabé Security System?’
75 Ibid.
76 Ibid.
77 Kharief, ‘Foreign Mercenaries.’
78 Barlow, ‘Pseudo Operations.’
79 Barlow, ‘Composite Warfare,’ 66.
80 Cooper, ‘The Post-Modern State and the World Order.’
81 Barlow, ‘Composite Warfare.’
82 Very and Mandrup, ‘The Africa Standby Force, Quo Vadis?’
83 Barlow, ‘Composite Warfare,’ 144.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Eeben Barlow
Eeben Barlow is a defence, intelligence and political advisor to several African governments, the former Chairman of STTEP International Ltd, and an acclaimed author. His focus is conflict and conflict resolution in Africa.
Bohumil Doboš
Bohumil Doboš is a researcher at the Institute of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University. His main research focus lies in the study of violent non-state actors, astropolitics and neomedieval analysis.
Martin Riegl
Martin Riegl is a researcher at the Institute of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University. His main research focus lies in the study of processes of political disintegration, sovereignty, and anomalous political entities.