The Sahel, a semi-arid region in north-western Africa rich in natural and human resources, is struggling with several challenges, such as poverty, terrorism and failure of national and state apparatuses. There are a total of ten countries in the region where former colonial rulers hastily drew national boundaries for their own benefit. However, the people and community in the region are still defined by tribal affiliation. The formation of a modern nation-state created problems among these tribes. Democracy and liberal values exported by Western countries were alien to them, but slowly, they understood and adopted it. However, the larger tribe wins and imposes its will, resulting in friction and tension as a civil war. The abundance of natural resources, such as gold and uranium deposits in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, contributes largely to their economy but also attracts local and international players. Long-standing tribal conflicts, profit from natural resources, which fund the purchase of arms and ammunition in order to assert power, and increase Islamic radicalization, have created security challenges.
Terrorism, caused by religious radicalization, is another deep-rooted problem for the region, which causes substantial threats to people and the state. The constant security threat posed by the Islamist terrorist organization not only creates religious tension but also creates a sense of mistrust between state institutions and civilians. People of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have experienced a number of coups in recent years and saw military rule as a liberating factor in terms of fighting Ismalist terrorists.
The rise of Terrorism and Religious Radicalization
Over the decades, the Algerian civil war, the fall of Muammar Qaddafi, and influence from Gulf-state Islamic NGOs and Pakistani preachers fueled the establishment of the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda’s Maghreb branch and Islamist group Ansar al-Din in the Sahel region. Due to poverty, rapid population growth and weak governance, these groups expanded quickly and caught the attention of International and regional security actors. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deployed local forces to mitigate the terrorist incidents. France launched an operation named Serval and Barkhane to protect the falling cities in the hands of the terrorists. These initiatives appeared to be an early success, but the formation of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Musalmin, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated federation, caused havoc in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The long failure of International forces and local governance against extremism and terrorism led to the emergence of a series of military coups in the Sahel, especially in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The military leaders cited the failure of civilian leaders and international forces to combat the threat of terror groups to justify their actions.
Mistakes of Regional and International Organizations/Actors
Regional and International organizations play a crucial role in the stability of any reason. It provides a discussion/communication ground for different countries in order to mitigate mistrust and provide cooperation space. However, ECOWAS in the Sahel has partially failed to facilitate this necessary equipment of diplomacy and has failed to prevent instability from spreading. ECOWAS pushes regional integration and democratization, efforts that appear at odds with the conflicts that have ruined several countries. The organization has also tried to mediate internal political crises and support peace operations in the region, but these efforts have largely been in vain.
After every coup, the suspension and withdrawal of coup-hit countries (Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger) from ECOWAS does not look like a good sign for the restoration of constitutional order and coordinated transitional framework. ECOWAS announced a raft of sanctions on these coup-hit countries, agreed to close all borders with them, suspend financial transactions and freeze the country’s assets in external banks. The ultimatum by the ECOWAS is for the junta to restore constitutional order; otherwise, it would be ready to face the consequences in the form of military intervention. It has antagonized these countries and pushed them to form a collective military alliance – the Alliance of Sahel States. This brought them closer and made them stronger. The sanctions, the threat of military intervention and suspension sent a strong message of opposition from the organization but failed to bring them to the table for a talk. The sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso by the Economic Community of West African States after several coups in these countries are hurting civilians more than anyone else. The bloc should revise these measures to narrowly target the generals responsible for disrupting democracy in these countries.
Military Rule can not solve complexity of the Region
The civilians of the region should also understand that the quick withdrawal of International forces and the sudden cessation of military rule has not changed anything in the Sahel. The exploitation of natural resources and radicalization of civilians are continuing. As the president of Ghana Said, “The withdrawal of French troops from the Sahel last year had exacerbated the security situation in the Sahel.” He further added that “he hoped Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger would rejoin the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc” in an interview with FRANCE 24. France should play a constructive role by providing a due share of natural resources to the local population in the form of good health and education. Doing so creates sympathy in the hearts of people and helps create jobs, which may help decrease radicalization and poverty. Hence, the ECOWAS, France and the International community should come forward to help the local population through aid and assistance and establish diplomatic talks with the Military ruler in order to bring democratic rulers to the region.
