No World Order: The Sahel’s Great Schism

The Sahel region is experiencing a major geopolitical shift as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and severed ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This move reflects deep-seated anti-French and anti-EU sentiment, driven by perceptions of neo-colonialism and a focus on security and migration over socio-economic development. As the EU's influence wanes, Russia has expanded its presence through military cooperation and strategic economic interests, including potential control over Niger's uranium. The author argues that the EU and ECOWAS must move away from punitive sanctions and colonial-era approaches toward equal partnerships and dialogue to maintain stability and influence in the region.

• Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) as a 'declaration of independence' and a counter-power to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aiming to integrate markets and bolster security.
• The EU's influence in the Sahel has been undermined by its close alignment with French policies, which are perceived as neo-colonial. This includes the use of the CFA franc, which is tethered to the euro and printed in France, and the EU's support for French-led military operations like Operation Barkhane and Operation Takuba.
• EU policies in the region are viewed as self-centered, prioritizing migration control and counter-terrorism over human rights. Examples include a 2015 deal with Niger that exchanged one billion euros for the criminalization of migrant transport and a 2016 agreement with Mali worth 145 million euros to deter migration.
• Russia is filling the vacuum left by the EU and France through military and economic means. This includes the presence of approximately 1,000 Wagner mercenaries in Mali, military cooperation agreements with Niger in January 2024, and talks to take over uranium assets in Niger previously held by the French company Orano.
• The schism between AES and ECOWAS has created economic instability and security risks. Sanctions have disrupted trade routes, contributing to a food security crisis in landlocked Niger and threatening revenue losses for ports in Togo, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire, as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso accounted for over 92% of transit at Togo's Lomé port.
• The author recommends that the EU shift from a self-centered model to an equal partnership, distancing itself from France's influence and investing in African-led democratic institutions and development projects in infrastructure and education.

APA

Besliu, R. (2024). No World Order: The Sahel’s Great Schism. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/no-world-order-the-sahels-great-schism/

Chicago

Besliu, Raluca. No World Order: The Sahel’s Great Schism. Green European Journal, 2024. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/no-world-order-the-sahels-great-schism/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Besliu |first1=Raluca |title=No World Order: The Sahel’s Great Schism |publisher=Green European Journal |date=22 August 2024 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/no-world-order-the-sahels-great-schism/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{besliu2024world, author = {Besliu, Raluca}, title = {{No World Order: The Sahel’s Great Schism}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/no-world-order-the-sahels-great-schism/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }