SIPRI’s work in Africa spans several regions and cross-cutting themes—including peacekeeping, peacebuilding and military expenditure.
SIPRI’s West Africa and the Central Sahel Programme analyses key conflict, security and peacebuilding issues affecting the region. The research seeks to contribute to a better understanding of local perceptions, needs and priorities within security, governance, development and humanitarian protection to inform policymakers and practitioners’ organizations.
The Programme utilizes complementary quantitative and qualitative methods and works in close partnership with research institutes in the region. The emphasis on capacity building and knowledge exchange stimulates bottom-up communication and dialogue between civil society, researchers and policymakers.
Currently, the geographic focus lies on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the tri-border Liptako-Gourma region and the Lake Chad region. Read more about the programme's work on security and governance and protection.
Another area of Africa-oriented research stems from the Institute's long-standing research on military expenditure, part of which takes a particular interest in transparency in military spending of states in sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition to these initiatives, SIPRI engages in research that seeks to better understand global and regional security dynamics and their interplay in Africa. This includes research on the arms trade and illicit trafficking; regional conflict studies; international assistance and stabilization efforts; climate change; and migration. All of this timely work utilizes the Institute’s well-developed strengths—such as data collection, policy analysis and capacity building through established partnerships and networks.
SIPRI seeks to contribute to a better understanding of local perceptions, needs and priorities within security and governance in West Africa and the Central Sahel.
SIPRI aims to better understand local perceptions, needs and priorities within development and humanitarian protection in West Africa.
SIPRI explores the state of military sector transparency in UN Member States, in particular focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
SIPRI’s work on the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean Security will analyse peace and conflict challenges in the region.
