Timbuktu Institute - African Center for Peace Studies

The Timbuktu Institute - African Center for Peace Studies is an African research centre for peace based in Dakar, Senegal, with offices in Niamey, Niger, and Bamako, Mali. It is a think tank whose researchers publish studies and reports on armed conflicts in Africa, their causes, and the tension factors that can threaten regional peace and stability. Its analyses are published on the institute's own website and through other media outlets. The institute is led by its founder and regional director, Dr Bakary Sambe, who is also the founder of the Observatoire des radicalismes et conflits religieux en Afrique (Observatory of Radicalisms and Religious Conflicts in Africa). Dr Sambe is a teacher-researcher at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis-du-Sénégal and an expert for several international organisations, including the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union. According to Bakary Sambe, the Timbuktu Institute is the successor to the Observatory of Radicalisms and Religious Conflicts in Africa, which was founded in 2012 in response to the destruction of several mausoleums in Timbuktu, at a time when it became clear that movements developing radical ideologies were taking root in sub-Saharan Africa. The observatory operated until 2016, when the Timbuktu Institute was created. The research institute was named after the famous historic Malian city of Timbuktu, a crossroads of several civilisations. The institute's Bamako office is its most recent. It was officially opened on 11 March 2021, with the agreement and support of the Malian government, and several high-ranking authorities attended the inauguration ceremony. The institute presents itself as a think tank with a public-facing mission, publishing an observatory section, reports and studies, and a newsletter, and maintaining a press area. Its website is available in French, Arabic, English, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili, reflecting a pan-African and international audience. Its editorial output includes analyses of current events such as the energy crisis in The Gambia and diplomatic and media developments in Guinea, alongside thematic content under the banner "Educating for Peace."

The Timbuktu Institute - African Center for Peace Studies traces its origins to the Observatory of Radicalisms and Religious Conflicts in Africa (Observatoire des radicalismes et conflits religieux en Afrique), founded in 2012. According to the institute's founder, Bakary Sambe, the observatory was created in response to the destruction of several mausoleums in Timbuktu, at a moment when it became evident that movements developing radical ideologies were establishing themselves in sub-Saharan Africa. The observatory operated until 2016. In 2016 the Timbuktu Institute was created as the successor to the observatory. The research institute was named after the famous historic Malian city of Timbuktu, described as a crossroads of several civilisations. From its base in Dakar, Senegal, the institute developed a research programme focused on armed conflicts in Africa and their causes, as well as on the tension factors likely to threaten regional peace and stability. Its researchers publish their analyses on the institute's website and in other media. The institute expanded its physical presence across the region. It established offices in Niamey, Niger, and in Bamako, Mali. The Bamako office is the most recent; it was officially opened on 11 March 2021, with the agreement and support of the Malian government, and several high-ranking authorities were present at the inauguration ceremony. Under the leadership of founder and regional director Dr Bakary Sambe, the institute has positioned itself as an African centre for peace studies with a pan-African and international reach. Dr Sambe is also the founder of the Observatory of Radicalisms and Religious Conflicts in Africa, a teacher-researcher at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis-du-Sénégal, and an expert for several international organisations, including the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union. The institute maintains a public-facing editorial operation, including an observatory section, reports and studies, a newsletter, and a press area, and its website is published in French, Arabic, English, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili.

• 2021

  Official opening of the Bamako office on 11 March, with the agreement and support of the Malian government.

• 2016

  Creation of the Timbuktu Institute as the successor to the observatory.

• 2012

  Founding of the Observatory of Radicalisms and Religious Conflicts in Africa, in response to the destruction of mausoleums in Timbuktu.

An African-led think tank producing independent research and analysis on radicalism, conflicts and peace in West Africa and the Sahel, aimed at policymakers, media and international organisations.

• L'Observatoire (the Observatory)

  A section of the institute's output dedicated to monitoring radicalism and conflicts.

• Rapports et Etudes (Reports and Studies)

  Research reports and studies on armed conflicts in Africa and threats to regional stability.

• Lettres de l'observatoire

  Periodic observatory letters published by the institute.

• Educating for Peace

  A thematic series of content, including short films and analyses, on peace education.

1. 1Timbuktu Institute – Think Tanktimbuktu-institute.org
2. 2A propos de l'instituttimbuktu-institute.org
3. 3Timbuktu Institute - African Center for Peace Studies (Wikidata)wikidata.org
4. 4Timbuktu Institute (Wikipédia)fr.wikipedia.org