Cooperation between National Armies: Evidence from the Sahel borders

Marion Richard and Oliver Vanden Eynde

NOVAFRICA Working Paper Series from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics, NOVAFRICA

Abstract: The effectiveness of security operations often depends on cooperation between national armies. Such cooperation can be particularly important when international borders are porous and armed groups can operate across borders. We investigate how the creation of an international armed force that could operate across international borders (the G5-Sahel Joint Force) together with improved communication between national armies affected conflict dynamics in the Sahel region. Relying on a regression discontinuity design, we find that the G5 mission lowered the intensity of conflict locally in its zone of operation, especially along border segments more porous due to their geographical features or ethnic composition. Further analysis of geographical conflict propagation patterns indicates that the G5-Sahel force facilitated security operations in border areas.

Keywords: Counterinsugency; Civil conflict; Borders; Cooperation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 D74 L23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 83 pages
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-inv
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unl:novafr:wp2507

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