FBA Research Brief: Prospects for Dialogue in the Central Sahel
Over the past decade, dialogue processes have been a cornerstone of national and international efforts to address the multifaceted crisis affecting the countries of the Central Sahel. Since 2020, the military has seized power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger and radically changed the approach to solving the crisis and the role of dialogue. Is there still room for dialogue as an instrument of peace in the Central Sahel and, if so, in what form? This is a key question this report addresses. Three thematic arenas of dialogue are reviewed: regional diplomatic dialogue, dialogue with jihadist rgents, and women’s participation in conflict resolution and national dialogue processes. The report takes stock of progress made in these dialogue arenas over the years, discusses the remaining challenges under the Sahelian military regimes, and makes concrete recommendations to national, regional and international actors for how dialogue can be supported in the current political and security climate characterizing the region.
Prospects for Dialogue in the Central Sahel
Over the past decade, dialogue processes have been a cornerstone of national and international efforts to address the multifaceted crisis affecting the countries of the Central Sahel. Since 2020, the military has seized power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger and radically changed the approach to solving the crisis and the role of dialogue. Is there still room for dialogue as an instrument of peace in the Central Sahel and, if so, in what form? This is a key question this report addresses. Three thematic arenas of dialogue are reviewed: regional diplomatic dialogue, dialogue with jihadist insurgents, and women’s participation in conflict resolution and national dialogue processes. The report takes stock of progress made in these dialogue arenas over the years, discusses the remaining challenges under the Sahelian military regimes, and makes concrete recommendations to national, regional and international actors for how dialogue can be supported in the current political and security climate characterizing the region.
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African-led ad hoc security initiatives (ASIs) and enterprise security arrangements (ESAs) provide flexible, rapid responses to complex threats but remain heavily militarized, weakly integrated into AU frameworks, and poorly aligned with protection of civilians (POC) standards. Their focus on counterinsurgency, reliance on external support, and lack of civilian components often undermine community trust and broader peace processes. While some positive practices have emerged—such as civil-military cooperation in the MNJTF and Rwanda’s outreach in Mozambique—these remain inconsistent. Without systematic integration of AU POC policies, civilian structures, and political strategies, ASIs and ESAs will struggle to deliver sustainable protection outcomes.
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