InterRegional for Strategic Analysis

InterRegional for Strategic Analysis, in cooperation with Mali’s Sahel Academy for Peace and Security Studies, recently held a closed roundtable entitled "Sahel Threats: The UAE’s Role in Addressing Terrorist Threats in West Africa." The event, which took place on June 16, 2026, was organized as part of efforts to advance the research partnership between the two institutions and brought together a number of researchers specializing in security, terrorism, and development issues in Africa.InterRegional for Strategic Analysis was represented at the roundtable by Wisal Al-Warfali, a researcher specializing in African affairs, as well as non-resident researchers Dr. Ahmed Askar and Dr. Mahmoud Zakaria. The Sahel Academy was represented by Dr. Madi Ibrahim Kante, Executive Director of the Center; Dr. Abdoul Sogodogo, Senior Strategic Adviser at the Academy; and Mohamed Traore, a researcher at the Sahel Academy.The roundtable examined terrorist threats in the Sahel and the factors contributing to their escalation, as well as the implications of international competition for regional security. It also discussed the UAE’s role in supporting security, stability, and development across the Sahel, as outlined below.Growing ChallengesThe speaker began by discussing the evolution of the terrorist threat in the Sahel and West Africa, alongside the growth of organized crime and illicit economic activity and the role of the nexus between organized crime and terrorism in fueling regional instability. The main points were as follows:1. Terrorist Activity Spreading from Mali to Neighboring Countries: The speaker explained that Mali’s security crisis began in 2012 and that its evolution can be divided into two main phases. The first, from 2012 to 2015, saw armed groups seize control of several cities in northern Mali, most notably Timbuktu, Gao, and Kidal. This prompted international military intervention, primarily through French operations, particularly Operations Serval and Barkhane, alongside the deployment of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). In 2015, the Algiers Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation was reached between the Malian government and several armed movements that had sought independence or autonomy for the country’s northern regions.The second phase, from 2015 to 2020, was marked by the spread of terrorist activity into central Mali and subsequently into Burkina Faso and Niger, which transformed the crisis into a regional one. During this period, ISIS also expanded its presence in the Greater Sahara, while al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar Dine, and al-Mourabitoun remained activee, with some factions eventually aligning with ISIS. These developments helped reshape the terrorist landscape across the Sahel.2. Expanding Geographic Reach of Terrorist Organizations in the Sahel: The speaker outlined the landscape of terrorist groups operating in West Africa, identifying three main organizations: Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), ISIS in the Sahel, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).JNIM operates in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with its activities also extending into parts of Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire. ISIS in the Sahel is concentrated in eastern Mali and western Niger, particularly in Ménaka and Tillabéri, while ISWAP operates in the Lake Chad Basin, including Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. The geographic reach of these groups has expanded significantly, with terrorist activity in Mali spreading from the north to the center and then westward toward the borders with Mauritania and Senegal.3. Terrorist Groups Exploiting Institutional Vacuums to Strengthen Local Influence: The speaker stressed that terrorist groups seek to embed themselves within local communities by building relationships with residents and community leaders. Some organizations have also shifted from centralized structures to decentralized networks led by local figures, facilitating their expansion, financing, and control.These groups establish links with local communities by providing what they describe as "alternative security and justice" where state institutions are absent. They also impose zakat and taxes and use a combination of coercion and incentives to gain acceptance or limit local resistance.4. Terrorist Groups Relying on Organized Crime as a Source of Financing: Terrorist groups operating across the Sahel employ recruitment strategies based on tribal and ethnic ties, alongside ideological propaganda disseminated through social media. Technology and drones have also become important tools supporting the activities of terrorist organizations.The UAE’s CommitmentThe speakers discussed the UAE’s policies in support of stability and development in the African Sahel and highlighted its contributions to strengthening security and sustainable development, as follows:1. Supporting Stability and Development Across the Sahel: The UAE has placed growing emphasis on West Africa as part of a strategic vision centered on supporting stability and development. It has strengthened its presence in the region through an extensive network of political, economic, and humanitarian partnerships, drawing on its position as one of the world’s major providers of development and humanitarian assistance and as a reliable partner in supporting stability and development efforts across Africa.As part of this vision, the UAE has adopted a multidimensional approach toward the Sahel that combines urgent humanitarian responses to crises with financing for infrastructure and essential services, support for food and water security, and efforts to expand investment opportunities and economic development. This approach also includes contributing to international efforts to combat terrorism and extremism and address the consequences of armed conflicts. In so doing, the UAE presents itself as a development partner seeking to transform stability from a temporary security condition into a long-term economic and social trajectory.2. Supporting Counterterrorism Initiatives in the Sahel: The UAE supports a security-based approach to combating terrorism and extremism, emphasizing in international forums that stability in the Sahel requires confronting terrorism and transnational crime. It also supports regional initiatives and mechanisms established to address these threats, while situating its engagement in the Sahel within a broader framework that links security with development. This includes efforts to address the underlying socioeconomic conditions, such as poverty and unemployment, that can serve as incubators for terrorism and extremism.In this context, the UAE provided approximately $750 million to the five Sahel countries between 2018 and 2023 to support efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.3. Strengthening Humanitarian Crisis-Response Mechanisms in Africa: The UAE relies on humanitarian diplomacy as one of the principal instruments of its engagement in the Sahel and surrounding areas. Chad provides an important example of this role, particularly amid the deteriorating refugee crisis. The UAE has provided assistance and relief to refugees and host communities in Chad and established a foreign aid coordination office in the country to coordinate humanitarian support.Through the UAE Aid Agency, the UAE has also provided support to boost the World Health Organization’s efforts to contain Ebola outbreaks in Africa, reflecting its commitment to rapid responses to humanitarian crises and health emergencies.4. Abu Dhabi Fund for Development Financing Strategic Projects in African Countries: The UAE regards food security as a priority in Africa and as an important foundation for stability. Its efforts range from providing direct food assistance during emergencies to supporting broader initiatives in agriculture, development, and resilience-building.Not only is the UAE providing humanitarian assistance in the Sahel and West Africa, but it is also building long-term economic and development partnerships to promote economic development, create jobs, develop infrastructure, and improve essential services. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development plays a major role in this domain by financing strategic projects in African countries across sectors such as transportation, energy, water, and essential services.5. Strengthening the UAE’s Position as Africa’s Second-Largest Trading Partner: In terms of investment and economic partnerships, the UAE is Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China, the largest among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the world’s fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment in Africa, with investments totaling $60 billion by 2024. Bilateral trade between the UAE and African countries also reached approximately $107 billion in 2024, an increase of 28% compared with 2023.6. Supporting Chad’s National Development Plan: The UAE supported the Republic of Chad’s National Development Plan for 2017–2021 by allocating $150 million through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.Mali, meanwhile, is an important trading partner for the UAE, and the two countries have signed an agreement to strengthen economic and commercial relations. Bilateral ties also advanced significantly during the second session of the UAE-Mali Joint Cooperation Committee, held in Abu Dhabi in August 2025, where the two sides signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement covering 11 priority areas, including infrastructure, transportation, development financing, investment promotion, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.In Senegal, which occupies a particularly important place in the UAE’s approach toward West Africa, cooperation extends to education, training, energy, ports, investment, and sustainable development. In January 2026, the UAE opened the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Institute for Vocational Education and Training in Dakar to support the development of Senegalese youth and promote vocational skills.Countering TerrorismThe speakers examined the spread of threats from the Sahel into other regions and the implications for regional security, as well as key aspects of the UAE’s role in combating terrorism and extremism across the African Sahel, as follows:1. Strengthening Defense Cooperation with Sahel Countries to Support Counterterrorism Efforts: The UAE has become an active and influential partner in regional and international counterterrorism efforts, reflecting its commitment to working with international and regional partners to promote security and stability in Africa. The speaker highlighted military and security cooperation agreements and other areas of cooperation between the UAE and Mali, Chad, Benin, and Senegal, which have strengthened defense cooperation and the exchange of expertise.UAE efforts in this area span political, security, military, development, and economic dimensions. One of the most prominent aspects of this role is the UAE’s support for Africa in international forums, particularly the United Nations, where it has emphasized cooperation with African countries to promote security and stability.This engagement has been accompanied by diplomatic and political outreach, including a tour of the Sahel in May 2025 by His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State, which included Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as well as visits by UAE delegations to Benin in 2024 and 2025. The speaker also highlighted the UAE’s support for the G5 Sahel in December 2017 as part of efforts to strengthen regional capacities to confront terrorist threats.The UAE has also strengthened its relations with the three Sahel countries and maintained active engagement in international forums. It joined the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition in December 2015, alongside more than 30 African countries.2. Supporting Regional and International Counterterrorism Efforts: The UAE supports a number of African organizations, including the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Alliance of Sahel States, through political and financial support, participation in ministerial meetings, and&nbsp;sharing its expertise on how to promote security and stability.Its efforts also include support for regional and international initiatives. In December 2017, the UAE provided financial assistance to the G5 Sahel, offered logistical support for France’s Operation Barkhane, and supported UN peacekeeping missions such as MINUSMA.The UAE helps bolster the security and military capabilities of Sahel countries through training, funding, and logistical support, thereby enabling national armed forces to confront terrorist organizations. It has also provided military assistance to countries including Chad, Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, and Nigeria, and established the Mohamed bin Zayed College of Defense in Mauritania to train officers and soldiers from the G5 Sahel countries. The speakers also highlighted the college’s role in supporting training, professional development, and military and security capacity-building programs across the region.The UAE has also become an important security partner for more than 20 African countries, including Sahel states, through military and security cooperation agreements with Mali, Chad, Benin, Senegal, and others.3. Consolidating the UAE’s Development Diplomacy in West Africa: The UAE’s role extends beyond security to include development and humanitarian assistance, reflecting its recognition that security and development go hand in hand. As part of this approach, it has provided humanitarian and development assistance to Sahel countries in healthcare, water, education, and energy, while also supporting development projects in Mali through financial assistance from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE provided medical and humanitarian assistance to Sahel countries, as well as aid to communities affected by terrorism, climate change, and drought. UAE humanitarian organizations, including the Emirates Red Crescent, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, and Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, play important roles in these efforts.In conclusion, the participants agreed that the challenges confronting the Sahel are no longer limited to terrorist threats but have evolved into a complex crisis in which security, political, economic, and social factors are intertwined. Traditional military approaches alone are therefore insufficient to achieve lasting stability. The participants also agreed that the UAE represents a reliable partner in supporting stability, security, and development across the Sahel, given its integrated approach combining humanitarian action, development investment, capacity-building, and efforts to combat terrorism and extremism. They stressed the importance of expanding the UAE’s partnerships with countries in the region and with African institutions to promote sustainable development, strengthen national institutional capacity, and support regional initiatives aimed at advancing security and stability. Such efforts, they argued, would thereby contribute to a more comprehensive and long-term response to the challenges facing the Sahel.