West Africa is seeing a wave of significant political and governance developments - from major financial sector ambitions in Nigeria and new state control over mining in Mali, to rising youth unrest in Senegal and tighter political restrictions under military rule in Burkina Faso. To help us make sense of these shifts and what they mean for democracy, stability and economic direction in the region, we're joined by political scientist and conflict resolution expert, Dr David Matsanga.

<p>West Africa is seeing a wave of significant political and governance developments - from major financial sector ambitions in Nigeria and new state control over mining in Mali, to rising youth unrest in Senegal and tighter political restrictions under military rule in Burkina Faso. To help us make sense of these shifts and what they mean for democracy, stability and economic direction in the region, we're joined by political scientist and conflict resolution expert, Dr David Matsanga.</p>