Sixth dialogue on peace and security in Sahel-Sahara Region: Crossing the borders of peace

Policy makers, academics, experts, and civil society actors from the region, as well as representatives of African and international multilateral mechanisms, gathered at the 6th Dialogue on the Sahel and Sahara to identify emerging trends and propose appropriate cooperative responses to regional security challenges. Here are some key takeaways from the discussions:

• The lack of trust between Sahel and Sahara states has facilitated the expansion of extremist armed groups and the growth of transnational organized crime in this vast region. The intertwining of threats in the sub-regions and international geopolitical dynamics requires enhanced strategic regional cooperation to combat these threats on the ground and to collaborate with external actors. Despite some reservations about the current performance of multilateral mechanisms, multilateral cooperation at the global and regional levels is considered essential to address the multifaceted challenges facing the region.
• The discourse on sovereignty and sovereignism is marked by tensions and contradictions depending on the point of view—for example, between state sovereignty, understood above all as an assertive desire for freedom and emancipation of states from foreign powers, and civil sovereignty. Thus, the notion of “sovereign security” remains vague. Today, the sovereignist and populist rhetoric of those in power, focused on security, tends to isolate the Sahel region and poses a threat to its economic development. Conversely, truly sovereign security for populations should guarantee their physical, economic, and food security.
• Borders are areas of economic and social continuity that promote connectivity, mobility, and development. If they are properly valued and secured, borders can be vectors of peace and regional stabilization. The extent, porosity, and remoteness of many of the region's borders expose states to vulnerabilities in terms of security and stability. This situation is exacerbated by the socio-economic marginalization often suffered by communities living along peripheral borders. Better cooperation among regional neighbors to secure borders, combat transnational crime, and improve livelihoods in border areas is necessary to strengthen national security.
• The co-creation of security and human development through inclusive and participatory governance is key to regional peace and security. This requires deliberate efforts to build trust and explore avenues for political agreement through dialogue. Dialogue is considered indispensable and imperative in the pursuit of conflict resolution and peacebuilding, but it is insufficient if not supported by sustained political action and socio-economic development. Dialogue should aim to strengthen the state's responsiveness to citizens' needs, promote more inclusive institutions, and deliver political results.