Why the Western Sahara dispute could escalate conflicts across North Africa and the Sahel
Fighters across the region may be drawn in if the violence continues, as has happened for years in Libya’s cascading internal and proxy wars
Experts & Staff
Andrew Lebovich
Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise
Religion, politics, and society in North Africa; the Sahara; the Sahel
Languages
English, French, Arabic
Biography
Andrew Lebovich is a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. His research focuses on North Africa and the Sahel.
Lebovich is currently a doctoral candidate in African History at Columbia University in New York, where he studies religion, politics, and society in North Africa, the Sahara, and the Sahel. He previously worked for the Open Society Initiative in West Africa (OSIWA) as a Sahel consultant, advising the organisation on political, social, and security issues in West Africa and the Sahel, and for the New America Foundation. He has lived and conducted field and archival research in France, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Mali, and Niger.
Lebovich graduated Magna Cum Laude from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in History in 2009. His writings have appeared in Foreign Policy, The Atlantic, and the Combating Terrorism Center's publication Sentinel, among other outlets.
Mali’s transitional government: The dangers of the junta clinging to power
There are promising signs in Mali’s new government, but the international community must take action now to ensure the military junta cedes power to civilians.
How to ensure Mali’s coup leads to a true democratic transition
The coup creates an opportunity to address the crucial, intertwined issues of reform and consultation – issues that have been neglected by the authorities at key points in Mali’s recent history
Disorder from Chaos: Why Europeans fail to promote stability in the Sahel
The Alliance aimed to integrate security, development, and governance perspectives but has struggled to find coherence and effectiveness
Unchecked escalation: Why Mali is in turmoil
Mali’s politics is undergoing radical change, partly due to years of discontent with its entire political and economic elite
After covid: Resetting Europe-Africa relations for mutual benefit
Covid placed a pause on the formal renewal of relations between Europe and Africa, but it has also brought new focus to old questions
Insecurity in the Sahel: Europe’s next fight against jihadism
The G5 Sahel has an excessive focus on security issues, as this has come at the expense of the political and governance issues it must deal with to truly stabilise the region
“More coordination” won’t fix the Sahel
Picking sides and intervening via local proxies often makes matters only worse, not better, in the countries of the Sahel
Sacred struggles: How Islam shapes politics in Mali
Religious issues and leadership play an increasingly important role in Mali, but international actors are ill-equipped to understand and analyse this
Stati deboli, corruzione ed eserciti inefficienti: perché il Sahel è la nuova frontiera della jihad
Il califfo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi incita i jihadisti della «provincia dell’Africa occidentale», elogia il comandante dell’Isis nell’Africa subsahariana, Adnan Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi
Publications
Disorder from Chaos: Why Europeans fail to promote stability in the Sahel
The Alliance aimed to integrate security, development, and governance perspectives but has struggled to find coherence and effectiveness
Sacred struggles: How Islam shapes politics in Mali
Religious issues and leadership play an increasingly important role in Mali, but international actors are ill-equipped to understand and analyse this
Halting ambition: EU migration and security policy in the Sahel
Some European leaders see stabilisation of the region – through curbing migration and counter terror threats – as key to the future of the European project
Bringing the desert together: How to advance Sahel-Maghreb integration
Policy recommendations Develop a joint framework on migration among the countries of the Sahel, the broader West African region, and the Maghreb. Help countries in…
Deciphering Algeria: the stirrings of reform?
Despite speculation of crisis waiting in the wings, Algeria is making tentative steps towards opening its economy and confronting political transition
Articles
Why the Western Sahara dispute could escalate conflicts across North Africa and the Sahel
Fighters across the region may be drawn in if the violence continues, as has happened for years in Libya’s cascading internal and proxy wars
Mali’s transitional government: The dangers of the junta clinging to power
There are promising signs in Mali’s new government, but the international community must take action now to ensure the military junta cedes power to civilians.
How to ensure Mali’s coup leads to a true democratic transition
The coup creates an opportunity to address the crucial, intertwined issues of reform and consultation – issues that have been neglected by the authorities at key points in Mali’s recent history
Unchecked escalation: Why Mali is in turmoil
Mali’s politics is undergoing radical change, partly due to years of discontent with its entire political and economic elite
After covid: Resetting Europe-Africa relations for mutual benefit
Covid placed a pause on the formal renewal of relations between Europe and Africa, but it has also brought new focus to old questions
Insecurity in the Sahel: Europe’s next fight against jihadism
The G5 Sahel has an excessive focus on security issues, as this has come at the expense of the political and governance issues it must deal with to truly stabilise the region
“More coordination” won’t fix the Sahel
Picking sides and intervening via local proxies often makes matters only worse, not better, in the countries of the Sahel
France’s strongman strategy in the Sahel
The French response to internal threats in North African countries has been to reinforce authoritarian rule to keep the peace. But it could inflame miltancy in the long run, especially in Chad and Libya.
Protests and the ailing president: Algeria’s political crisis
Algerians have taken to the streets to voice their discontent with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's plan to run for a fifth term in office. Could this be the beginning of more fundamental reform?
The death of a jihadist: A chance to curb Mali’s conflict
Last month, French forces in Mali killed one of the Sahel’s most prominent jihadist leaders, Amadou Koufa - his death is a brief opportunity for Mali’s government and the international community
Specials
Mapping armed groups in Mali and the Sahel
Violence is tearing Mali and the Sahel apart. But who are the armed groups behind the bloodshed? Where are international actors stationed in the region? And what motivates them all?
Podcasts
Accès humanitaire et risques sécuritaires au Sahel
Podcast de notre BCM du 14 juin « Accès humanitaire et risques sécuritaires au Sahel » en présence de Lucile Grosjean, chargée de…
Protests in Algeria: A fifth term for Bouteflika?
Mark Leonard speaks with Andrew Lebovich, Anthony Dworkin and Chloe Teevan, about what the demonstrators want, and EU-Algeria relations. Bookshelf: La Martingale Algérienne, Réflexions…
The Sahel: A transit region for migration
Mark Leonard speaks with Shoshana Fine and Andrew Lebovich about what is Europe trying to so in the Sahel. Bookshelf: The Good Immigrant by Nico…
Les politiques migratoires et de sécurité de l’Union européenne dans le Sahel
Podcast de notre BCM du 9 octobre : « Les politiques migratoires et de sécurité de l’Union européenne dans le Sahel » avec Giovanni Faleg,…
L’Algérie : quel partenaire au Maghreb et au Sahel ?
Nouveau podcast de notre série sur l'élection présidentielle de 2017 ayant pour objectif de traiter les thèmes d'actualité et de contribuer au débat…
Sahel : comment l’intégration régionale peut favoriser la stabilité
Podcast du Black Coffee Morning “Sahel : comment l’intégration régionale peut favoriser la stabilité” du 13/06/2017, animé par Fransje Molenaar, chercheuse à l'Unité…
The Sahel: a key region for France and Europe
Nouveau podcast de notre série sur les présidentielles de 2017 ayant pour objectif de traiter les thèmes d'actualité et de contribuer au débat dans…
Conference on the Maghreb region and its relation with Europe
Conférence donnée à l'ENS le 9/12/15 par Andrew Lebovich, chercheur invité de l'ECFR et Anthony Dworkin, Senior Policy Fellow de l'ECFR. Introduction par Manuel Lafont…
The terrorist threat in North Africa – how it is developing and how to counter it
Riccardo Fabiani, senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, Andrew Lebovich, visiting fellow at ECFR, Mattia Toaldo, policy fellow for ECFR's Middle East & North…
In the media
While the president of the current transitional government N'Daw is generally seen as a well-respected figure, it may be too soon to determine if his nomination is a positive development, says Andrew Lebovich
Andrew Lebovich comments on the coup in Mali.
Andrew Lebovich comments on France's future in Mali after the military coup
Andrew Lebovich is interviewed by France 24 about the coup in Mali and the evolution in the situation.
Andrew Lebovich explains the coup and recent developments in Mali.