Between Armed Groups and Military Governments: Escalating Violence Against Civilians in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger

This December 2025 report, "Between Armed Groups and Military Governments: Escalating Violence Against Civilians in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger," sounds the alarm about mass atrocities in a mostly forgotten region. As author Jon Temin outlines, there is a remarkable gap between the severity of the harm facing civilians in the Central Sahel and the attention the world is paying to the situation. 

This report details the trends and risks across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as sustainable and effective responses will need to respond to the region as a whole. Pro-government forces and Islamist armed groups have brutally attacked civilians, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. The Fulani, a marginalized ethnic group that lives across West Africa and beyond, is at particular risk of targeted attack. Destabilizing scenarios—like attacks on major cities or the geographic spread of Islamist armed group activity—are plausible. And yet, precious little global action is being taken to help protect civilians.  

The mass atrocity crimes in the Central Sahel defy easy remedy. The report details the challenges facing those who want to protect civilians from systematic violence. Policy makers have limited tools to deter perpetrators, assist victims and survivors, and fight impunity in this region. But recognizing these challenges does not mean that nothing can be done. The options outlined in this report provide ideas for states, donors, and others that want to stem the tide of systematic, large-scale violence against civilians.