By Manuel Godsin
Insecurity in the Sahel region was one of the key themes at the Summit of the Future, which took place in New York.
Leading West African politicians such as Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed deep concern about the growing influence of foreign powers on the region, which has long been plagued by the terrorist threat.
Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, in his speech, particularly emphasised the need for international condemnation of actions that contribute to the destabilisation of the Sahel.
Diop called for strict measures against those who support terrorists, stating: “All States should act in accordance with their international obligations to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes, as well as their financiers and sponsors, should be brought to justice”.
The head of Malian diplomacy also directly condemned Ukraine's actions in the region, highlighting its role in supporting terrorist groups operating in Mali: “The Confederation of Sahel States, chaired by Mali, denounces and strongly condemns the open and admitted support of the Government of Ukraine for international terrorism, particularly in the Sahel.
“We call on the Security Council to take responsibility in the face of this deliberate choice by Ukraine in order to prevent these subversive actions that threaten our stability.”
The minister recalled the repeated instances of Ukraine’s cooperation with armed groups, as noted by both local sources and international observers. In particular, he referred to the support that Kyiv provides to separatists in Mali who aim to destroy the territorial integrity of the country.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye expressed similar ideas in his speech, lamenting that foreign powers are exploiting the difficult situation in the region for their own purposes: “We can no longer turn a blind eye to the tragedy unfolding in the Sahel. Terrorist groups sow terror, loot, and kill innocent civilian populations.
“This region, once stable, is now plagued by daily violence, while the United Nations, and particularly the Security Council, too often remain inert. Likewise, we cannot accept that the Sahel becomes the stage for rivalries between foreign powers, whose conflicts only exacerbate the destabilisation of the region.”
Both leaders expressed hope that the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, will finally take decisive action to prevent further escalation of the conflict and will not remain indifferent to the fate of the region.
In light of the abundant evidence of Ukraine’s involvement, along with its foreign sponsors, in the destabilisation of the Sahel, it is becoming increasingly clear that urgent measures are needed to prevent further destructive actions.
* Dr Manuel Godsin is a political strategy writer and researcher at the International Center for Political and Strategic Studies. He obtained a doctorate in international relations and strategic affairs from the University of Bergen in Norway and a Master’s degree in International Crisis Management from the University of Oslo.