Cross-Perspectives from France, Germany and Europe: What Future for the Sahel?

In light of the current geopolitical shifts and growing security challenges in the Sahel, the region’s future is a pressing concern. The withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS, the termination of European Union military and civilian missions, the creation of the Alliance des États du Sahel, and the rise of anti-French discourse all require international partners to adapt. Despite many European partners turning away from the region, the European Union has called for a renewed strategy for the Sahel. With the webinar series “Cross-Perspectives from France, Germany, and Europe: What Future for the Sahel?”, the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique (FRS) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) aim to address the region’s future and the need for redefining African-European relations. It will assess the feasibility of a unified Franco-German strategy and discuss the growing influence of global powers such as China and Russia as well as the implications for Europe. The series will look at Europe’s potential role up to 2040, focusing on critical issues such as climate change, demographic shifts and energy needs in one of the world’s most dynamic regions. Join us and hear from experts on how France, Germany and Europe can renew their strategies and strengthen their partnerships in the Sahel in alignment with local needs.

• Is a Franco-German strategy in the Sahel possible? November 19th, 2024, 12h30-14h00 CET. Discussion with Denis Tull (SWP) and Jonathan Guiffard (Institut Montaigne). Moderator: Djenabou Cisse (FRS). 
• The rise of new actors in the Sahel: what implications for Europe? December 12th, 2024, 12h30-14h00 CET. Discussion with Nina Wilén (Egmont Institute) and Ulf Laessing (KAS). Moderator: Djenabou Cisse (FRS). 
• What role for Europe in the 2040 Sahel?, January 27th, 2025 (more information will follow).