Sahel: remains EU priority

Brussels 23.01.2023 The Foreign Affairs Council had an exchange of views on Sahel and the coastal countries of West Africa, confirming that this region remains a priority for the EU in spite of the worsening security and political situation.

🇪🇺 Foreign Ministers’ discussion on #Sahel reaffirmed the need for critical and constructive #TeamEurope engagement, most notably on 3 key sectors:

🔹Fight against disinformation

🔹Reinforced regional cooperation

🔹Investments through #GlobalGateway, incl. in human development pic.twitter.com/lFXRkbJvQa

— Jutta Urpilainen (@JuttaUrpilainen) January 23, 2023

Following the decision to establish a new Military Partnership Mission in Niger, which is due to be launched in February 2023, the Council agreed to develop a Crisis Management Concept in order to offer the Coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea concrete engagement and targeted training and support. The EU will also deploy Military Advisors in EU Delegations to guide this effort.

"IS Sahel is in the process of establishing a pseudo-state encompassing the rural areas stretching from Gao in the north to Dori in the south and from N’Tillit in the west to the border area of Tahoua in the east." https://t.co/dhMJWMU2SK

— Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (@ACLEDINFO) January 23, 2023

“The Sahel, the last news are not good. The terrorists spreading to the Gulf of Guinea. Burkina Faso have asked for the French troops to leave. So, Sahel will be also on the agenda” said the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell upon his arrival to the Foreign Affairs Council which took place in Brussels on January 23.