International IDEA 63d ago

The African Union Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), in collaboration with the European Union Special Representative for the Sahel, Swiss Special Envoy for the Sahel, Danish Special Envoy for the Sahel, Germany's Special Envoy for the Sahel, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DSH), and International IDEA convened a workshop on Strengthening Security and Stabilization in Sahel and West Africa: Bridging Good Governance, Regional Cooperation, and Multilateral Responses. The two-day workshop took place from 23– 24 April 2026 in Banjul, The Gambia. This workshop was convened against the backdrop of a regional context marked by persistent and multidimensional challenges. West Africa and the Sahel continue to grapple with the escalation of terrorism and violent extremism, complex political transitions, and increasing risks of spillover into coastal states. These interconnected dynamics undermine regional stability and underscore the urgent need for coordinated, integrated, and sustainable responses. The workshop brought together around 50 participants, including high-level policymakers, special envoys, representatives of states and RECs, civil society actors, EU and African Union (AU) officials, as well as security and governance experts.