Sinking in Shifting Sands: the EU in North Africa

The EU’s influence in Northern Africa wasn't strong before the Arab Spring. And now, warns the CSS’ Lisa Watanabe, things are only about to get worse. That is, of course, unless Brussels develops a bolder and more coherent vision for engaging with its southern neighborhood.

By Lisa Watanabe for Center for Security Studies (CSS) 

Why Europe should broaden its horizons in the Sahel

The Sahel stretches from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, touching on 13 countries from Senegal to Eritrea. Turmoil is spreading across the region, putting European security interests at risk, yet Brussels is scrambling to respond. As the EU prepares for a new military mission to the Central African Republic (CAR), it should review its Sahel policy. The EU needs a more integrated approach to the broader Sahel if it is to deal with the humanitarian and security crises emanating from the region.



In 2013, the chaos in Mali revealed to Europeans that the Sahel, in spite of its geographic distance,was connected with the EU’s neighbourhood. France’s robust military intervention was followed by an EU training mission to help Mali’s armed forces, and eight member-states are contributing to a UN mission there. In spite of a successful presidential election, Mali’s problems remain: reconciliation between the northernTuareg groups and the government in Bamako is moving slowly, and as UN troops replace theFrench, militant groups threaten to return.