New strategy for a new reality in the Sahel

‘Developments in the Sahel have an impact on us here in Norway and in the rest of Europe. The changes we are seeing have ramifications across national borders, and Norway’s engagement in the Sahel will therefore have a broader regional focus than before,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

‘We have to adapt Norway’s engagement to take account of the challenges currently affecting the Sahel countries, such as increased violent extremism, coups d’état, weak governance and detrimental Russian interference. In response to the changed situation on the ground, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now making the necessary adjustments to our efforts in the region,’ said Mr Eide.

In the strategy, the Sahel region is defined as Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad. The strategy will apply for the period 2024–2030.

Increased cooperation with civil society and multilateral organisations

Norway has been engaged in the Sahel for decades and has provided substantial humanitarian and development assistance to the region. In recent years, the situation in the Sahel region has deteriorated, with a widespread increase in instability, violent extremism and human suffering due to conflict, climate change and weak governance.

‘These negative trends have made development cooperation with civil society and multilateral organisations even more important than before, and at the same time it has become more difficult to engage in direct cooperation with the authorities,’ said Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.

The Sahel is one of the regions in the world that is most vulnerable to climate change, with drought, flooding, and sand and dust storms becoming increasingly widespread. Underlying problems such as persistent poverty, food insecurity and the impacts of climate change further exacerbate the situation. The scale of humanitarian needs has increased considerably and millions of people have been displaced.

Alleviate suffering and promote long-term development

The strategy sets out the steps Norway will take to help to reverse the current negative trends and pave the way for long-term sustainable development in the region.  

‘In the short term, the main aim of Norway’s engagement is to address humanitarian challenges, enhance food security, increase stabilisation, and improve local capacity to combat violent extremism. At the same time, we will apply a long-term approach and work to reverse the current negative trends, facilitate sustainable and democratic development and, and promote human rights and gender equality,’ said Ms Tvinnereim.

Norway provides a large amount of development assistance to the Sahel countries. In 2022, Norway allocated NOK 569 million to projects in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Senegal, primarily to promote conflict resolution, humanitarian efforts and education. The security situation is challenging, making it difficult for personnel on the ground to carry out their work, and the presence of non-democratic governments poses obstacles to direct development cooperation.

With the establishment of the Embassy in Dakar in Senegal, Norway’s engagement in the Sahel will have a broader regional focus. The updated strategy will continue to focus on the Sahel region, but now also highlights the need for more preventive efforts in the coastal states that share borders with the countries of the region.