Current Affairs / Sahel Region — UPSC Mains Model Answer

All three AES member states experienced military coups between 2020 and 2023, with juntas citing failures of civilian governance and inadequate external security support. The Alliance was formalised through the Liptako-Gourma Charter, establishing a mutual defence pact among the three nations. This convergence of military-led governments created a bloc with shared political legitimacy concerns and security imperatives.

In early 2024, the AES countries formally announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, citing the bloc's imposition of sanctions and perceived alignment with Western interests over regional solidarity. This withdrawal has significant implications for trade, free movement of persons, and collective security architecture in West Africa. ECOWAS now faces a credibility challenge in enforcing democratic norms without alienating member states.

The AES nations expelled French military forces and diplomatic missions, ending decades of French security presence in the Sahel. Rather than inviting UN peacekeeping forces, these governments have pivoted toward partnerships with Russia, including engagement with private military contractors. This reorientation raises concerns about accountability, human rights oversight, and long-term stabilisation prospects.

The Sahel region remains one of the world's most acute humanitarian crises, with jihadist insurgencies displacing millions. The AES framework has yet to demonstrate institutional capacity to address governance deficits, development gaps, or civilian protection needs that fuelled instability in the first place.