On Monday 15 November, the foreign ministers of the EU27 expressed their concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel, while confirming the EU’s commitment to this strategic region in line with the EU’s integrated strategy for Sahel.
“Last night there was another attack in Burkina Faso, with 20 more people dead. Our security starts in the Sahel and we have to engage more with the region”, stressed the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, after the meeting. He noted that while insecurity and instability primarily affect the people of the Sahel, they also threaten the economic development of these countries and impact on security in Europe.
The EU will mobilise all the instruments at its disposal to ensure that the commitments made as part of the Sahel Roadmap are realised.
The most attention was paid to Mali, where the transitional authorities intend to postpone both the presidential and legislative elections in February.
Ministers have reached a political agreement to define a specific framework for restrictive measures. “I hope they will be finalised soon. They will make it possible to sanction those who hinder the transition process”, said Mr Borrell.
They will be decided as soon as the technical bodies have finalised them and their adoption will be considered during the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting.
On 7 November, the extraordinary summit of ECOWAS Heads of State adopted targeted sanctions against the transition leaders and their families. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)