In response to the announcement of the withdrawal of the Barkhane military operation and the Takuba forces from Mali, Oxfam's West Africa Regional Director, Assalama Dawalack Sidi said: "The withdrawal is a terrible admission of failure. Nearly ten years of military operations in the country have solved nothing as much of the Central Sahel continues to be plagued by conflict."
As the G5 leaders meet at the Sahel Summit in France on 13 January 2020 to discuss their military response to the Sahel conflict, Oxfam and partners warn of insufficient humanitarian aid and protection of civilians.
West Africa is hit by its worst food crisis in a decade, with 27 million people going hungry. This number could rise to 38 million this June - a new historic level and already an increase by more than a third over last year- unless urgent action is taken.
The Tunisian Parliament has adopted a new law for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence. In response, Soufia Galand, Oxfam Country Office Tunisia Gender Justice Officer, said: “The revolution is still alive and it has added a feminist milestone to its path!"
In reaction to the EU and US announcement of new sanctions against Mali, Oxfam and 12 other NGOs called for the international community to protect the people of Mali.