Transport infrastructure is critical in armed conflicts. A dense infrastructure network allows states to provide services to the civilian population and defeat insurgents in a timely manner. Yet, transport infrastructure itself can also become a major target for rebels and violent extremists.
This new OECD report examines how the competition for the control of transport infrastructure between state and non-state actors produces various patterns of violence in North and West Africa.
Launched at the Munich Security Conference in February 2025, it is the third report dedicated to the geography of armed conflict in the region coordinated by SRG Olivier Walther, Dr. Marie Trémolières, and Dr. Steven Radil.