Reforming governance

Gilles Yabi, a 39-year-old Benin-born economist and political scientist now living in Dakar, stood out at a very young age due to his sharp, insightful analyses. In late 2013, he stepped down from his position as director of the West Africa International Crisis Group (ICG) to found the independent West African Citizen Think Tank (WATHI) in September. Mr. Yabi now wants to devote all his time to what he calls his “obsession”: the state of Africa and its peoples for the next ?  ve decades. WATHI, which has a website (www.wathi.org), wants to channel good intentions, in Africa as well as in the Diaspora, to support the democratisation and growth of a continent wracked by coups, terrorism and post-electoral violence. The think tank is open to all contributions in the public interest. Its ?  rst citizens’ debate focused on “the sub-region’s most pressing political and institutional reforms.”