"They treat us all like jihadis": Looking beyond violent extremism to building peace in Mali

This policy brief presents the findings of an 18-month project led by International Alert in Mali’s central regions of Timbuktu, Mopti and Ségou.

Based on a range of multidimensional engagements with communities and local authorities, the project sheds light on the drivers and dynamics of ‘violent extremism’, their connections to other conflict dynamics and the importance of having a context-specific understanding and applying conflict-sensitive approaches rooted in local communities. Taking these aspects into account can ensure that responses to violent extremism deliver a long-lasting impact and contribute to peacebuilding and statebuilding in Mali.