In collaboration with Search for Common Ground’s Global Policy and Outreach team, the Forum will craft policy papers and issue briefs to identify key conflict dynamics, gaps in current response, and recommendations for international, regional, national, and local policy audiences.
Find below the latest from our policy team:
Digital Governance: A Sahelian Perspective
August 2026 – This analysis paper, titled “Digital Governance: A Sahelian Perspective,” examines the limitations of traditional approaches to tackling disinformation and advocates for a more preventive, inclusive, and human-centered model of digital governance. Drawing on the work of the Bamako Forum and a series of regional consultations, it provides practical recommendations to strengthen shared responsibility among governments, digital platforms, civil society, and citizens, while promoting a multi-stakeholder approach to digital governance across the Sahel.
Nairobi Call for a Safer Digital Future in Africa
In this Nairobi Call for a Safer Digital Future in Africa, the Bamako Forum on Digital and Social Cohesion, FECOMO Kenya and the Catalyst Forum advance a shared African vision, bringing together experts, policymakers and civil society leaders to promote inclusive and trusted digital spaces.
The positive power of digital technology: How digital platforms amplify women’s voices in Bamako
In this publication, Aminata SAMASSEKOU and Cheick Hamed Tidiane DARA highlight how Malian women are using digital platforms to drive social change, entrepreneurship and civic engagement, while advancing a more inclusive, resilient and people-centered digital future in Mali.
Report on digital regulation in the Sahel: state of play and prospects for a people-centered model
A new report (currently only available in French), produced by a partner of the Bamako Forum, maps the legal frameworks and regulatory practices in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and puts forward concrete recommendations for political decision-makers, regulatory authorities, technology companies and civil society organizations.
Statement for Responsible Digital Policies – Third edition of the Bamako Forum on Digital and Social Cohesion
Bamako Forum partners, academics and policymakers from across the Sahel met on November 25th-26th, 2024, to discuss the opportunities and struggles with social cohesion in the region. We are pleased to share here their continued recommendations for unity and collaboration on digital peacebuilding.
Sahelian Women in Digital Spaces – Tilwate Peace Network
The Tilwate Peace Network, a member of our Bamako Forum on Digital and Social Cohesion coordination committee, has produced a research paper on Sahelian Women in Digital Spaces. This research highlights the challenges and opportunities these women face in the digital landscape, providing valuable insights for policymakers, tech companies, civil society organizations, and educational institutions. Attached is the full report.
The Bamako Declaration on Digital and Social Cohesion
We are happy to share with you the declaration that came out of the forum discussions on Sept. 19th-20th, 2023. Attached is the full text of the declaration. We encourage you to share this statement with your networks and continue to promote the values of social cohesion and digital inclusion.
Conference Debate on Social Media & Personal Data Protection
On June 9th, 2023, the Bamako Forum launched with a multisectoral conference debate on the protection of personal data in the era of digitization in Mali. The conference provided a forum for debating institutional and legal frameworks for protecting personal data to promote better appropriation and principles for collecting and treating personal data by researchers, practitioners, youth, and civil society.
Social Media and Disinformation in the Sahel
December 2022 – This article, titled “Social Media and Disinformation in the Sahel,” examines the evolution of the Sahel’s digital ecosystem and the growing role of social media in shaping political, security, and social dynamics across the region. It explores the main actors driving disinformation, the mechanisms of information manipulation, and the opportunities digital spaces offer to strengthen dialogue, community resilience, and peacebuilding efforts. The article was published by the FrancoPaix Centre of the Raoul-Dandurand Chair in Strategic and Diplomatic Studies at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).
Conflict and Online Spaces in the Sahel: Challenges and Recommendations
July 2022 – This analysis paper, titled “Conflict and Online Spaces in the Sahel: Challenges and Recommendations,” examines how disinformation, hate speech, polarization, extremist recruitment, and digital inequalities fuel conflict dynamics across the Sahel. It also provides practical recommendations for policymakers, technology platforms, and civil society to strengthen social cohesion and prevent violence in digital spaces.