New geopolitical dynamics in the heart of the Sahel

Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mali, participates in a panel discussion on the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) during the Crans-Montana Forum in Brussels on June 27, 2024. The event was an opportunity to clarify the complex situation in the Sahel region and present the vision of the member states of the Alliance.

A misunderstood region
Abdoulaye Diop began by stressing the importance of understanding the entire Sahel region. According to him, the region goes far beyond the three countries traditionally associated with the Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger) and includes countries such as Senegal, Somalia, Morocco and Libya. Diop insisted that the Sahel represents a human, geographical and geopolitical continuum, which is crucial to understand.

Crisis and disinformation
The minister spoke about the challenges facing the Sahel countries, including insecurity, terrorism and the consequences of NATO’s intervention in Libya. He criticized the misinformation surrounding the region, which makes it difficult to accurately understand the situation. Diop explained that the political transitions underway in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger cannot be reduced to simple coups d’état, but must be seen in the context of the loss of territorial control due to insecurity.

ECOWAS and sanctions
Abdoulaye Diop expressed dissatisfaction with the economic and financial sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on countries in transition, calling them unreasonable and in violation of the organization’s rules. He insisted that the suspension of membership should not lead to their complete exclusion or the imposition of severe economic sanctions that would hit the local population hard.

New alliance, new starting point
In response to ECOWAS’ actions, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formed the Alliance for the Sahel on September 16, 2023. This defensive military alliance is based on the Liptako-Gourma Charter and aims to ensure regional security, combat terrorism and promote security in the Sahel. Deep economic integration. Diop mentioned the importance of strengthening cooperation in the fields of energy, transportation and natural resources for the economic development of member states.

Towards federation
The Malian minister raised the possibility of transforming the union into a federation or even a federation to achieve deeper integration and shared governance. Such an approach would aim to address security and economic challenges while preserving the sovereignty of member states and rejecting external influence.

Call for dialogue
Diop concluded by calling for dialogue with ECOWAS and the international community, stressing that decisions on the future of the Sahel countries must be made in Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey, not in Brussels or Paris. He stressed the importance of working with partners who respect the sovereignty of the Sahel countries and their aspirations for autonomous development.

In short, Abdoulaye Diop’s speech at the Crans-Montana Forum highlighted the determination of the Sahel countries to overcome current challenges through enhanced cooperation and sovereign governance, while calling for better understanding and support from the international community.

Boubacar Guédé (Nigerian Sporozoites)

We invite you to watch the entire fascinating speech by Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, a seasoned diplomat, defender of sovereignty and strategic leader, in the video below.