- Europe’s “renewed approach” to the Sahel, agreed in late 2025, has been hampered by three internal divisions.
- A lack of clarity remains over what interests are at stake for Europe. The effect is risk aversion and little goal-oriented action.
- Moreover, some EU Member States block forward-leaning action. This hampers the Member States to act on behalf of “Team Europe”.
- Europe also lacks a convincing narrative and a corresponding policy offer that clearly demonstrates its value as a partner to Sahelian governments.
- In short, the EU and its Member States must first resolve these internal shortcomings. Without greater strategic clarity, unity, and credibility, effective engagement in the Sahel is likely to remain elusive.
European policy on the Sahel is yet again at a crossroads. In late 2025 the EU office of the Special Representative for the Sahel (EUSR) developed a “renewed approach” to the region in recognition of the increasing difficulty for Europe to work in the Sahel and the declining security situation there. The renewed approach seeks to recast Europe’s presence in the Sahel with three priorities: political engagement, support to human security, and a focus on socio-economic resilience.
This piece argues that the renewed approach obscures the fact that Europe remains divided on the Sahel. Three very serious issues remain at the heart of EU Sahel policy.
First, Europe should overcome internal disagreement around EU interests in the Sahel. The renewed approach ensured some common ground with a narrative of maintaining influence in Europe’s neighbourhood, but there is little precision about what interests are at stake or about Europe’s strategic direction.
Second, Europe has not solved the conflict at the heart of EU policy between hardliners who largely oppose engagement with Sahelian states, realpolitik advocates, and the ‘middle ground’ navigating between these camps. This division has put major constraints on how the EU can operate and it will continue to make success in the region unlikely.
Third, Europe lacks a convincing narrative about why it is an attractive partner for Sahelian states. That is not an exercise in better explaining, packaging, and selling what Europe does; rather, a new narrative requires concrete policies that materially show what Europe stands for and why partnering with Europe is desirable for the Sahel.