The Role of Race in Local and Regional Instability in the Sahel

The Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC) is an inter-agency group housed within the U.S. State Department which coordinates and informs Government-wide communications activities targeting violent extremists and terrorist organizations. This Capstone project examined role of race (as distinct from ethnicity, status, or occupation) in contributing to instability in the Sahel. The conflict in Mali is central to this analysis, but this project’s research also drew attention to the regional repercussions of current and historical racial dynamics in Niger, Mauritania, and (to a lesser-extent) Chad. Particular attention was paid to the racial dynamics of recruitment and membership in armed groups, as well as their interactions with local populations.

The methodology for the final report combined in-depth historical research with more current news and analysis. The team relied primarily on open sources (both academic and media), supplemented by interviews with experts. These ranged broadly from academics and journalists to practitioners working with NGOs and international organizations. The team was also able to gain a first-hand perspective by contacting local stakeholders and on-the-ground practitioners in the region.