ECFR 41d ago

Recent coordinated attacks by jihadist and separatist groups in Mali, unprecedented in their scale and coordination, have placed the state’s security apparatus under strain and reinforced concerns over instability across the wider region, despite the reconfiguration of Bamako’s external partnerships. More broadly, the Sahel and West Africa are facing a complex set of interlinked political, security, and economic challenges, while governments across the region increasingly affirm national agency and sovereignty. In this context, European approaches are also adapting, with ongoing discussions on policy priorities and implementation in the region. This event will provide an overview of recent political and security developments in the Sahel and West Africa, examining both regional dynamics and the role of European engagement. It aims to explore where Europe can add value in a context of limited bandwidth, political sensitivities, and increasing strategic competition. Finally, the event will also look at possible spillover effects to coastal states, based on the policy brief “Harmattan hazards: How coastal west Africa can escape the Sahel’s fate”. Guests João Cravinho, EU Special Representative for the Sahel Djiby Sow, Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies Africa Nana Touré, Director, Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat, OECD Chaired by Suzanne Tisserand, Policy Fellow, Africa programme, ECFR 00:00 Introduction to the Sahel Crisis 02:47 Security Dynamics in Mali 05:52 Regional Trends in the Sahel and West Africa 11:45 European Engagement in the Sahel 24:04 The Role of Regional Cooperation 34:55 Future Prospects and Challenges 36:38 The Evolving Political Landscape in the Sahel 39:46 Regional Cooperation and Economic Interdependence 46:23 Media Coverage and the Narrative Battle 50:55 Geopolitical Dynamics and External Actors 56:09 Building Trust and Redefining Partnerships