This article analyses the patterns of violence produced by the competition for the control of transport infrastructure between state and non-state actors in West Africa from 2000 to 2024. Using disaggregated road and conflict data from the Global Roads Inventory Project (GRIP) and Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project, the paper first shows […]
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Trade networks for agricultural products play an important role in agricultural development and regional integration in West Africa. However, mapping these networks is challenging due to the lack of a comprehensive analytical framework that supports evidence-based policymaking. This policy note represents a first attempt to integrate the spatial, social and temporal aspects that influence trade […]
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Associate Professor Olivier Walther received an OECD grant for a project that will explore the diffusion of Jihadist groups from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. This project is part of a long-term collaboration between the UF Sahel Research Group and the OECD Sahel and West Africa Club, which started when […]
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Political violence is very irregularly distributed across time. Periods of relative calm are often followed by massive waves of attacks. Violent events are relatively rare, sparse and concentrated, making it difficult to evaluate whether violence is actually increasing or decreasing. To overcome these limitations, UF Geography Associate Professor Olivier Walther developed a new dashboard in […]
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Walther, O., Radil, S., Russell, D. (2024). The spatial conflict life cycle in Africa. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, DOI: 10.1080/24694452.2024.2428812. ABSTRACT: The growing availability of geospatial data that document both how violent actors are connected and where their attacks take place offers a unique opportunity to produce a more integrated approach to […]
WALTHER – Identifying local conflict trends in North and West Africa Radil, Steven and Walther, Olivier Article first published online: 9 March 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/24142026 ABSTRACT: Several states in West Africa have experienced significant episodes of political violence since the early 2010s. These have included civil wars, religiously motivated terrorism, separatist insurgencies, military coups and […]
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WALTHER, RUSSELL – The fragmentation of conflict networks in North and West Africa Walther, Olivier and Russell, David Article first published online: 09 March 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/24142026 ABSTRACT: African armed conflicts involve a myriad of state forces, rebel groups and extremist organisations bound by rapidly changing alliances and rivalries. Organisations that were allies one day […]
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WALTHER – The impact of transport policies on road accessibility in Ghana Susanna Goewey, Olivier J. Walther, Paul Nugent Article first published online: 01 February 2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2024.2309385 ABSTRACT: This article examines the impact of transport policies on road accessibility in Ghana. To measure accessibility gains, the article applies a model that compares the area […]
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Walther – Border studies at 45 Olivier Walther, Anne-Laure Amilhat Szary, Chiara Brambilla, Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, Martin Klatt, Jussi P. Laine, Inocent Moyo, Thomas Ptak, Steven Radil Article first published online: 14 May 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2023.102909 ABSTRACT: This essay takes stock of the work conducted in border studies so far and discusses some of the challenges […]
WALTHER, RUSSELL, PFLAUM – Urbanisation and Conflicts in North and West Africa Olivier J. Walther, Steven M. Radil, David G. Russell, Matthew Pflaum, Alexander Thurston First published online: 21 Mar 2023 OECD Report DOI: 10.1787/3fc68183-en ABSTRACT: North and West Africa are undergoing rapid urbanisation. While cities and urban areas have always been sites of conflict, […]
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A team of University of Florida researchers has been awarded a $660,000 grant to detect and monitor risks of artisanal mining and charcoal production in Ghana, NASA announced last week. Entitled “Integrating Socio-Economic and Remotely Sensed Information to Characterize Conflict Precursors and Land Degradation Dynamics in Ghana”, the three-year project will combine images collected by […]
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WALTHER – Revolutionary Insurgents or Conservative Reactionaries? National Liberation Army’s Transnational Expansion in Colombia and Venezuela Juan D. Rojas, Olivier J. Walther Article first published online: 10 September 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/lag.0.0182 ABSTRACT: The objective of this article is to document the spatial diffusion of the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Colombia and Venezuela. Building on a […]
WALTHER – Security and Trade in African Borderlands-An Introduction Olivier Walther Article first published online: 08 Mar 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08865655.2022.2049350 ABSTRACT: The goal of this special issue is to explore the relationships that bind trade and security in African borderlands. Examples from the Horn, North, and West Africa suggest that African countries are in the difficult situation […]
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WALTHER – Contextualizing the Relationship Between Borderlands and Political Violence: A Dynamic Space-Time Analysis in North and West Africa Steven M. Radila, Ian Irmischer. & Olivier J. Walther Article first published online: 25 AUG 2021 Journal of Borderlands Studies DOI: 10.1080/08865655.2021.1968926 ABSTRACT: This paper examines the role of borderlands in contemporary armed conflicts in North […]
Disastrous natural hazards, both fast and slow, and violent conflicts affect many people worldwide, often impacting already fragile environments and conservation areas. These crises have significant political, economic, and social implications that can reverse development gains, further entrench poverty and inequality, thereby increasing the risk for future crises. Sub-areas Outbreaks Extreme Events Natural Hazards Protected Areas Wildlife Economy Natural Resources Social Vulnerability Humanitarian […]
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The turbulence of the current times has dramatically transformed the world’s economic and political geographies. The scale and scope of such changes require urgent attention. Important topics in this arena relate to: globalization and its impact on peoples and places; economic inequalities across geographic scales and borders; terrorism and power; the development of the knowledge-based economy; and […]
Geographers conceive of networks and flows between places as a foundational spatial concept. Geographic information systems (GIS) are the main analytical tools employed in determining relations between individuals, settlements, modes of transport, and infrastructures like power grids, and communication networks. The concepts can also be applied to disease contagion, healthcare service delivery, crime activities, river […]
Sahel and West Africa Club · The evolution of violence across the Sahel and West Africa – with Olivier Walther and Steven Radil In this podcast, the OECD Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat is pleased to welcome Olivier J. Walther and Steven M. Radil, two authors of a recent book published by the […]
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Image courtesy OECDThe latest report on security – Conflict Networks in North and West Africa, was just launched at a meeting of the Coalition for the Sahel. This new publication builds on the previous work in, Geography of Conflict in North and West Africa, launched at the Munich Security Conference in February 2020, by OECD […]
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GAINESVILLE, FL – On March 4th, 2021, the University of Florida signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to encourage research on social and political changes in the West African Sahel. Signed on behalf of the UF Center for African Studies, the new agreement will reinforce ties […]
Dr. Olivier Walther and collaborators Dr. Greg Kiker (UF ABE) and Dr. Erica Odera (UF ABE) have received a new grant from the National Science Foundation to study the impact of Covid on international research networks. Using multi-criteria decision analysis and social network analysis, we hypothesize that international research teams can be designed to be […]
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Dr. Olivier Walther Assistant Professor of Geography Affiliate Faculty, Center for African Studies Affiliate Faculty, UF Center for Global Islamic Studies Founder and Coordinator, African Networks Lab Faculty Member, Sahel Research Group University of Florida Focus Areas GeoSpatial Analysis & Techniques Sustainability & Global Environmental Change Research Statement: My research focuses on trade and political […]
GEO6938 GEO4938 Terrorism and Space The aim of this course is to study international terrorism and its spatial implications. The course examines how a spatial approach can contribute to better understand the onset and diffusion of terrorist organizations across the world. Terrorism and Space puts a strong emphasis on spatial analysis and geographically-referenced data to […]
GEO3502 Economic Geography The world is becoming increasingly connected. Yet, the benefits of globalization have not been shared equally across the regions. What makes regions competitive? Why are some cities more innovative than others? How do borders affect human flows and ideas? The aim of this course is to study the causes and consequences of […]
Speaker: Dr. Olivier Walther Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Florida Thursday, January 30, 2020 3:50-4:50 PM (Period 8) Zoom, livestreamed on YouTube University of Florida All are welcome to attend. African governments are increasingly confronted with new forms of political violence. This study maps the evolution of violence across North and West Africa. […]
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Several UF Geographers had their research highlighted in the Center for African Studies‘ recently published Annual Research Report for 2019-2020, including Dr. Olivier Walther, Ryan Good, Leandra Merz, and Matthew Pflaum. The report also highlighted several working groups, including the Natural Resources in Africa group, which includes several geographers as members.
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GEO3502 Economic Geography The world is becoming increasingly connected. Yet, the benefits of globalization have not been shared equally across the regions. What makes regions competitive? Why are some cities more innovative than others? How do borders affect human flows and ideas? The aim of this course is to study the causes and consequences of […]
WALTHER – Uncovering the internal structure of Boko Haram through its mobility patterns Rafael Prieto Curiel, Olivier Walther, & Neave O’Clery Article first published online: 16 JUN 2020 Applied Network Science DOI: 10.1007/s41109-020-00264-4 ABSTRACT: Boko Haram has caused nearly 40,000 casualties in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad, becoming one of the deadliest Jihadist organisations in […]
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WALTHER – Urbanization and border cities in West Africa/Urbanisation et villes frontalières en Afrique de l’Ouest Olivier J. Walther, Lawali Dambo, and Moustapha Koné Article first published online: 1 JUN 2020 L’INFORMATION GÉOGRAPHIQUE ABSTRACT: This article analyzes West Africa’s urbanization process and the demographic role of border cities in the region. In a first part, […]
WALTHER – Network analysis of regional livestock trade in West Africa Valerie C. Valerio, Olivier J. Walther, Marjatta Eilittä, Brahima Cissé, Rachata Muneepeerakul, Gregory A. Kiker Article first published online: 14 MAY 2020 PLoS ONE DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232681 ABSTRACT: In West Africa, long and complex livestock value chains connect producers mostly in the Sahel with consumption […]
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GAINESVILLE, FL – In a new paper published in PLoS ONE today, Dr. Olivier Walther and colleagues produced the first comprehensive mapping of the West African livestock trade network. Their network analysis of more than 42,000 movements from 2013-17 shows that live animals flow through well-defined, long distance trade corridors and that border markets are important […]
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WALTHER – Rebel fragmentation in Syria’s civil war Olivier J. Walther & Patrick Steen Pedersen Article first published online: 13 APR 2020 Small Wars & Insurgencies DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2020.1726566 ABSTRACT: In rebel-held Syria, an array of rebel organisations are nominally allied in their fight against the Syrian government and yet they remain internally divided. Rather than […]
WALTHER – The Geography of Conflict in North and West Africa Olivier Walther Article first published online: 14 FEB 2020 OECD Report DOI: 10.1787/02181039-en ABSTRACT: African governments are increasingly confronted with new forms of political violence. The situation is particularly worrying in the Sahara-Sahel where violence is on the rise. This degrading security situation has […]
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WALTHER – Commerce de réexportation des textiles et villes frontalières entre Niger et Nigéria Olivier J. Walther et Moustapha Koné Article first published online: 01 JAN 2020 Les Cahiers d’Outre-Mer DOI: 10.4000/com.9487 ABSTRACT: L’objectif de cet article est d’examiner les conditions économiques qui ont rendu possible le développement du commerce de réexportation aux frontières du […]
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WALTHER – Economic performance, gender and social networks in West African food systems Olivier J. Walther, Michel Tenikue, and Marie Trémolières Article first published online: 15 DEC 2019 World Development DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104650 ABSTRACT: The objective of this article is to measure the effects of income and gender on informal social networks in the rice value […]
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WALTHER – Mapping travel time to assess accessibility in West Africa: The role of borders, checkpoints and road conditions Olivier J.Walther, Lawali Dambo, Moustapha Koné, and Michiel van Eupen Article first published online: 29 NOV 2019 Journal of Transport Geography DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2019.102590 ABSTRACT: Distance, transport infrastructure and city networks Accessibility remains problematic in many parts […]
University of Florida Department of Geography The Navi-Gator OCTOBER 2019, ISSUE 2 So many new and exciting things have happened… Check out our amazing new grad lab in 1215! Come visit us in the geography office– lounge around in reclining chairs and grab some new GeoGator merch. We have T-shirts and sweatshirts for sale, […]
WALTHER – Mapping International Co-authorship Networks in Border Studies (1986–2018) Olivier Walther, Martin Klatt, & Freerk Boedeltje Article first published online: 05 NOV 2019 Journal of Borderlands Studies DOI: 10.1080/08865655.2019.1685402 ABSTRACT: Border studies have become increasingly global over the past two decades. Yet, a network analysis of the articles published in the Journal of Borderlands […]
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WALTHER – Mapping the Geography of Political Violence in North and West Africa Olivier J. Walther, Steven M. Radil, and David Russell Article first published online: 17 OCT 2019 Development Matters ABSTRACT: A worrying turn The security situation in North and West Africa has taken a worrying turn. Within the span of a few years, […]
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Dr. Olivier Walther and his colleague Dr. Marie Trémolières (OECD) are presenting a talk titled West African Border Cities: Growth and Density at the African Borderlands Research Network annual conference in Lomé, Togo this week. Their presentation is part of a panel on West African border cities that builds on their recent series of West African Papers published […]
Mapping cross-border policy networks in West Africa Speaker: Dr. Olivier Walther Visiting Associate Professor, Center for African Studies, University of Florida Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Management, University of Southern Denmark Thursday, October 5, 2017 3:00-3:50 PM (Period 8) Turlington Hall Room 3012 University of Florida All are welcome to attend This […]
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