Since 2012, when conflict first escalated in northern Mali, the Sahel has seen instances of violence erupting. The EU and France have been providing their contribution to stabilization and crisis management in the countries of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. However, armed religious groups have been cementing their presence in the region, exploiting ethnic clivages. According to this report written by the Centre for European Reform, tactical victories by the countries of the Sahel in the past years are, as such, insufficient in limiting the recurrent instances of open conflict, marked by terrorism as well as an abuse of human rights, more often than not. Governments should commit to good governance, and civil society could take a crucial part in trust-building.

https://cer.eu/publications/archive/policy-brief/2021/sahel-europes-forever-war