Hannah Armstrong Senior Consulting Analyst, Sahel Dakar, Senegal Please submit all media inquiries to harmstrong@crisisgroup.org or call +32 (0) 2 536 00 71 Crisis Group Role Hannah came to International Crisis Group in 2014 as a consultant for Algeria. She is now the Senior Consulting Analyst for Sahel. She is based in Dakar. Areas of Expertise North Africa Sahel Western Sahara Political Economy International Security Professional Background Hannah has worked across North Africa and the Sahel as a writer and researcher for various publications and organisations since 2006. She has held fellowships from the Institute of Current World Affairs and the Fulbright Program and has a master’s in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Languages English (native) French (fluent) Arabic (conversant) In The News 18 Jun 2021 Deploying counterterror forces [in the Sahel region] has wiped out some leaders but failed to defeat or contain the threat. Instead, there has been a rise in authoritarian rule, a spread in instability and much higher risk to civilians. Washington Post Hannah Armstrong Senior Consulting Analyst, Sahel 1 Apr 2021 Putting a bounty on militant leaders’ heads, these types of policy moves, make negotiations and outreach [in Burkina Faso] quite a bit harder. Foreign Policy Hannah Armstrong Senior Consulting Analyst, Sahel 30 Mar 2021 What needs to be done right now is not wiping out terrorists, it needs to be building links between central states and rural communities [in Burkina Faso] Politico Europe Hannah Armstrong Senior Consulting Analyst, Sahel 11 Apr 2020 The problem, in Niger’s case, is that policies aimed at disrupting trafficking in the north could inadvertently end up fueling instability. Washington Post Hannah Armstrong Senior Consulting Analyst, Sahel 29 Mar 2020 [...] French counterterrorism mimics U.S. counterterrorism of 15 years ago. In the Sahel, the Americans have already realized this is a losing battle. New York Times Hannah Armstrong Senior Consulting Analyst, Sahel 4 Nov 2019 The main fault-line for conflict in the Mali-Niger border has shifted. A year ago, it was drawn between communities. Now it lies between militants loosely fighting under an IS banner and state forces. Twitter Hannah Armstrong Senior Consulting Analyst, Sahel Latest Updates Commentary / Africa 27 July 2021 Turkey in the Sahel Ankara is strengthening ties with Sahelian capitals, building mosques and hospitals and opening up export markets. Its defence pact with Niamey has led rivals to suspect its intentions. Turkey and other outside powers should do what they can to avoid unnecessary additional competition in the region. Also available in Français Op-Ed / Africa 5 June 2020 « Au Niger, l’option militaire face à l’Etat islamique doit s’accompagner d’un projet politique » L’analyste Hannah Armstrong regrette que Niamey délaisse le dialogue avec les communautés frontalières de la région de Tillabéri, notamment les nomades peuls. Originally published in Le Monde Q&A / Africa 13 December 2019 Behind the Jihadist Attack in Niger's Inates A shocking attack by an Islamic State affiliate has killed more than 70 Nigerien soldiers, the most ever in a single incident. Crisis Group expert Hannah Armstrong explains that the jihadists’ strength is rooted in decades-old communal grievances in the Mali-Niger border zone. Also available in Français Commentary / Middle East & North Africa 25 April 2018 The Youth Movement in Sahrawi Refugee Camps Refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, have long been run by the Polisario movement, which seeks an independent state in Western Sahara, also claimed by Morocco. But a new generation of Sahrawi refugees is growing fractious as aid dwindles and diplomatic efforts fail to deliver a settlement.