The Crisis in Mali: An Optimistic Reevaluation of Sahel Policy
An article for the think tank the Atlantic Community by Paul Melly takes a more optimistic view of the situation facing Mali after the first phase of the French and Malian military which has brought the Malian people in the North much needed stability and the Sahelian region where he sees more of a common purpose to tackle the problems facing it.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/The-Crisis-in-M...
The article emhasises the need to restore stability and economic cohesion to Northern Mali and the Sahel region and whilst recognising the problems that face the vast region it finds some cause for optimiusm.It notes that the region has to resolve multiple long term problems including poverty,unemployment,high population growth, climate change and limited resources.
The author notes that the Malian crisis has helped to reinforce the European Union's committement to Mali and the Sahel recognising that they are of vitalcocern to the EU's security. supporting the Sahel will he affirms be one of the great challenges facing the EU in the early part of the 21st Century. He sees a sense of shared political destiny across the Sahel region which is supported by ECOWAS which has shown its solidarity by committing its forces inthe fight against the terrorists along with Chad which is not a member of Ecowas.This enables the West to work with a political block with a consensus.
There are shared institutions across the region for draling with drought and desertification and the Sahel and West Africa are used to dealing with international institutions. Logistics in this vast region remain but there is a common will to act. Whilst money and aid is important it is not the whole solution to the problems of drought and desertification. Despite the complications the Malian crisis has given the West and the Sahel countries a chance to reappraise their cooperation.
The article concludes that there is a shared commitment to deepen cooperation in building economic, military
environmental, and security across the region. Many details have yet to be worked out but the general direction
for the future is agreed between the Sahel and its Western partners.
The author notes that the Malian crisis has helped to reinforce the European Union's committement to Mali and the Sahel recognising that they are of vitalcocern to the EU's security. supporting the Sahel will he affirms be one of the great challenges facing the EU in the early part of the 21st Century. He sees a sense of shared political destiny across the Sahel region which is supported by ECOWAS which has shown its solidarity by committing its forces inthe fight against the terrorists along with Chad which is not a member of Ecowas.This enables the West to work with a political block with a consensus.
There are shared institutions across the region for draling with drought and desertification and the Sahel and West Africa are used to dealing with international institutions. Logistics in this vast region remain but there is a common will to act. Whilst money and aid is important it is not the whole solution to the problems of drought and desertification. Despite the complications the Malian crisis has given the West and the Sahel countries a chance to reappraise their cooperation.
The article concludes that there is a shared commitment to deepen cooperation in building economic, military
environmental, and security across the region. Many details have yet to be worked out but the general direction
for the future is agreed between the Sahel and its Western partners.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/The-Crisis-in-M...