The central Sahel region in Africa which includes Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Mali is facing a complex humanitarian crisis that has evolved and worsened throughout the years. Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Secretary of the State, brought it to light in his visit to Riyadh. He expresses his concern for the region and believed that the United States values continued leadership and sacrifices in support of African security and the need to reform democratic norms, and good governance practices, resolve conflict, host refugees, combat terrorism, and facilitate economic opportunity and trade.[1]
OVERVIEW OF THE CRISIS:
The collapse of the regime in Libya led to unrest in Northern Mali in 2011 and the region saw an increase in armed groups. Lack of basic services like security, education, and healthcare and rampant poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment, made the people more susceptible to the promises of extremist groups, who often offer a sense of community, purpose, and financial security. The Islamic State (ISIL) attempted to “Africanize” references and languages, to justify the terrorist group’s views
The other factors which contributed to the crisis are the herder-farmer clashes, arms trafficking, insurgencies, inter-communal tensions, religious extremism, scarcity of resources, and climate change.
According to the UNHCR, 13.7 million require humanitarian assistance while at least 2.7 million people are displaced from their homes and lack access to basic human facilities, like food, water, sanitary facilities, etc.
US STRATEGY OF INTERVENTION:
The United States has invested in stabilization efforts in the Sahel for the past two decades. The Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) was created in 2005 to guide US foreign policy in addressing armed threats.
TSCTP was criticized for its over-militaristic approach with increased spending on security assistance and institutional support for domestic warfare against militant groups. Human Rights Watch reported in February that security forces in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have committed more than 600 unlawful killings since 2019 during counterterrorism operations. TSCTP’s proposed activities of progress made on paper never saw its daylight.[2] Corruption charges of more than US $700 million spent on TSCTP also surfaced.[3]
The 2020 Biden administration published the Global Fragility Strategy or GFS, which commits to using diplomacy, development, and defense as tools to “advance regional stability and provide internal security”, with a focus on the Sahel. [4]
RUSSIA SEIZES OPPORTUNITY:
Russia is leveraging its influence over the region through the visit of its foreign minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this year and its Wagner mercenary group. The U.S. has expressed its distaste over the presence of the Wagner Group and as a result, levied secondary sanctions on African nations who align with Russia. Taking the rocky relationship with the US as an opportunity, Russian military advisers were sent to Mali in 2021 after a coup and provided security and diplomatic support to the affected areas. This has raised the eyebrows of US policymakers, worried about Russia’s looming influence.
NEED FOR CHANGE IN APPROACH:
The US must prioritize diplomatic relations in the region over military activities which can prove more effective in solving the security crisis. The “Do no harm” approach can be implemented where the US must support regional organizations for political sovereignty and development, with a focus on diversifying local economies. [5] Investments must be made in human capital development with an emphasis on skill-based education. The inclusion of African rights groups in lobbying in Washington DC can help get a better perspective on this issue. Efforts must be taken to stop firearms trafficking which can stop the international and the national flow of arms. The strategy must also look at the non-traditional factors of the crisis like climate change, food insecurity, corruption, and lack of resources, and find ways to resolve these challenges.
The balance between civil and military approaches must be attained to change Africa’s narrative in a positive light. The Sahel is a land of opportunities and the US must seek better policies to reap benefits for better diplomatic relations and for the welfare of the people of Sahel.
Author: Sneha Nair, Research Intern, CS3, USI
Endnotes
[1] “Secretary Antony J. Blinken Before Meeting on Multilateralism in the Sahel,” US Department of the State, June 8, 2023, United States Government, https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-before-meeting-on-multilateralism-in-the-sahel/.
[2] Kamissa Camara, “It Is Time to Rethink U.S. Strategy in the Sahel,” United States Institute of Peace, April 16, 2021, https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/04/it-time-rethink-us-strategy-sahel.
[3] Jeremy Keenan, The Dying Sahara: US Imperialism and Terror in Africa (London: Pluto Press, 2013).
[4] Gilles O. Yabi, “How Can the United States Better Engage with Africa’s Fragile and Conflict-Affected States,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, March 2023, https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/03/30/how-can-united-states-better-engage-with-africa-s-fragile-and-conflict-affected-states-pub-89423.
[5] Ibid.