Europe and the Sahel: What Level of Engagement?

The security situation in the Sahel region keeps deteriorating and continues to impact on European security and European interests. Since 2020, a series of coups has occurred in the Sahel and West Africa regions, including two in Mali and Burkina Faso, one in Guinea, and most recently one in Niger. Through such events, Europe’s approach to security in the Sahel region has had to evolve, while taking into consideration the deteriorating security situation and the challenges of political dialogue with juntas.

The European Union (EU) has been involved in the region for years through its security and defence missions and operations, but recent developments concerning the political and security climate in the region raise concerns about the future of the EU’s global approach. Likewise, questions arise regarding the EU’s forthcoming strategy of engagement in the region given the divergence of strategic perspectives that exists between Member States. It is therefore necessary to understand the underlying political dynamics and how they may influence the European approach in the region over the coming months and years.

To this end, CSDS organised a workshop on 16 May 2024 with the support of DGRIS, French Ministry of the Armed Forces. The closed-door event brought together experts and policymakers to reflect on the following questions:

• What remain the key security challenges in the Sahel region and how might Europe’s interests and approaches be affected?
• How should we approach the coups and security challenges in the Sahel region, and what are the specific issues facing each country in the Sahel?
• What impact do recent events in the Sahel have on the EU’s strategy for the region and more broadly on its strategy for Africa?