Military coups in the Sahel: causes and consequences

On July 26th, 2023, a military coup toppled the democratically elected President Bazoun in Niger. This marked the seventh coup to occur in the Sahel region in less than three years, posing Europe with some profound dilemmas. On the one hand, instability in the Sahel region could jeopardize the security of the European continent, with jihadist groups gaining ground across the region. On the other hand, collaborating with unconstitutional governments contradicts Europe's professed values and could prove counterproductive in the long term. Furthermore, anti-French and anti-European sentiments are prevalent in the region, and Russian mercenaries offer local governments an alternative to European assistance. This debate seeks to provide insights into these issues and address critical questions, such as: How can we explain the series of coups? What security interests are at stake for Europe? What policy should the EU and its member states develop towards the region? Should we continue to offer security assistance and development aid following such military coups?

Participants:

Prof. Nina Wilén (Egmont Institute/Lund University)
Ms. Charline Burton (Search for Common Ground)
Colonel Marijke De Temmerman (Defensie)
Moderator: Prof. Tim Haesebrouck