Security and Aid in the Sahel: Examining a Persistent Paradox

Earlier this week, Guinean authorities announced the arrest of 14 individuals involved in GSIM activities. According to the prosecutor's office, this was a network of accomplices and recruiters who used social media and cross-border connections to support jihadist fighters. This episode highlights that GSIM's infrastructure extends far beyond the frontlines in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, encompassing logistics, financial flows, and intermediary networks in neighboring countries.

In the Sahel region, where conflicts continue and the GSIM coalition of jihadist groups operates, a critical question remains unanswered: is a significant portion of European humanitarian aid being funneled into areas effectively controlled by armed Islamists? Given the arrests in Guinea, which revealed the extent of GSIM's 'logistical' network, a question is being asked with increasing urgency: is the humanitarian pipeline becoming an additional channel of support for anti-government forces?

France's official position remains unchanged: 'We are saving lives.' Yet, the paradox highlighted by both experts and the dynamics on the ground is becoming increasingly evident: over €25 billion in cumulative spending (military operations and NGO support), and GSIM still controls significant portions of Burkina Faso and other areas in the Sahel.

Operation Barkhane: From Tactical Success to Strategic Failure

For nine years, from 2014 to 2022, France conducted the Barkhane military operation in the Sahel, deploying up to 5,100 troops, 780 equipment units, and spending approximately €9-10 billion. Yet, despite this, the strategic picture appears far less optimistic.

Billions of Euros in 'Gray Zones': Who Benefits from This Aid?

The Sahel Alliance, the Minka Sahel Initiative, and the Sahel Facility have invested over €13 billion in the G5 Sahel for the period 2018-2025.

Source: Adama Ndiaye (Seneweb)