Debate: Threats to stability, security and democracy in Western and Sahelian Africa
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Jutta Urpilainen
Language: EN

Several countries in the region are characterised by structural fragility and political instability, as illustrated by the coups d’état that have occurred in recent years – Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso – as well as the attempted coups in Guinea Bissau and Niger. Meanwhile, the terrorist threat is constantly growing in the Central Sahel, the Lake Chad region, and even now more and more in some coastal countries in Africa.  As President Moussa Faki recently said, the scourge of terrorism on the African continent has reached an unprecedented scale. This instability has many causes, at the forefront of which are terrorist armed groups and their supporters, but also organised crime and trafficking. However, the insecurity is also based, particularly in certain regions, on the lack of governance, lack of development or even prospects for the very young population. The Sahel is and remains a priority for the European Union, as we recalled at the last Foreign Affairs Council.  I would like to reaffirm our will to support the people of these countries, who are facing political instability, insecurity, and a catastrophic humanitarian situation and growing food insecurity, also due to the war in Ukraine. In early April we co-organised with Commissioner Lenarčič, a pledging conference to address the rising food insecurity. Team Europe pledged close to EUR 1 billion. However, we can only work with those who want to work with us, by being more demanding on the need for enhanced political engagement and accountability. In particular, when we see the emergence of actors in the field of security who don’t comply with any of our principles.  And that is why we have recently taken decisions to restructure our defence and security missions in Mali to align with our objectives and values. But let me be clear: we will not abandon Mali or the Sahel. That was my main message in Niger, but also in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, who are impacted by the spillover of security threats. We will remain engaged, in line with our integrated strategy for the Sahel, around five pillars: political dialogue, security and stabilisation, development assistance, international and regional coordination, and strategy communication.  We are also ready to strengthen our support to the countries of the Gulf of Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin, or Senegal in particular. In all these countries, the EU has been active for many years. We will build upon that experience and we will work with existing regional frameworks, such as the Accra Initiative and ECOWAS.  The response must go well beyond the fight against terrorism, namely through an integrated approach on border areas. Countering transnational organised crime, strengthening the presence of the state, implementing the coordinated maritime presence in the Gulf of Guinea and working with local communities to contain the rise of radicalisation will all be important.  Peace will not be won by arms alone. As I have always said, peace and development are two sides of the same coin. Our military and security commitments must go hand in hand with a civil and political awakening and with finding ways to involve the vibrant Sahelian youth.