A preliminary coordination discussion between EU Member States to review the strategy with the Sahel after the succession of military coups - and in particular the one in Niger on 26 July - took place on 18 September in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA-78), at an informal meeting of European foreign affairs ministers.
“We agreed on the need to reassess our strategy, our approach, our policies and expectations”, the High Representative of the Union, Josep Borrell, told a press briefing, stressing that, in the face of “geopolitical instability in the region”, the aim at this stage was to gather views.
“This is the starting point for an in-depth strategic discussion about the situation in the Sahel. We cannot continue doing the same things and expect that we will have different results”, he explained ahead of the meeting.
In his view, this strategy would confirm the EU’s commitment to the region, but on the basis of a differentiated approach for each country, based on common ground without falling into double standards.
“We have to remember that we have been the biggest supporter of the region in terms of security, development and humanitarian aid, and we have to underline the importance that we attach to the region”.
Believing that instability in the Sahel and military coups have had an impact on the EU “as neighbours and direct partners”, Mr Borrell said that “migration and security are key elements [that] we need to take into account in our strategy that guides our action in development cooperation”.
The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, is reviewing with the EU27 “which are the answers that the Member States should implement in their respective policies in order to offer a coherent answer to these crises”, said the High Representative.
“The region is of great strategic interest to us and we will remain engaged”, added Ms Urpilainen on the X social network.
With regard to Niger, Mr Borrell reiterated the EU’s position, reaffirmed by the ministers, namely “support for President Bazoum” as the only legitimate authority; support for ECOWAS and the African Union “for African solutions to African problems”; and “full solidarity with France over the situation of its ambassador”. Sylvain Itté, who remains in his post despite an expulsion order, is still confined to the embassy in Niamey and Paris considers that he is being held “hostage”, according to minister Catherine Colonna.
Prior to the meeting, the German minister, Annalena Baerbock, confirmed that she and her “French colleague” felt it was important “in a region that has become increasingly fragile, to stand by our democratic partners and identify ways of supporting the people for the stability of the region, because the problems in the Sahel are also Europe’s problems and challenges”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)