THE insurgency in the Sahel which initially was born in Northern Mali quickly spread into neighboring countries across the Sahel due to their weak state structure and poorly-equipped and low-skilled armed forces. The France-US military withdrawal in the Sahel has led to regional instability and which the head of states of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso cannot manage. Recently, several jihadist fighters were reported to be entering Nigeria. The persistent and growing strength of violent extremist organizations in the Sahel since the withdrawal of France-US military threatens the humanitarian services, the stability of West Africa and spread instability across Africa, posing significant security and financial risks to the United States and Europe. The continuing collapse of international counterterrorism support in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as weakening leadership in regional efforts, has created a vacuum in which violent extremism can expand. I am worried about the Sahel countries’ political and economic instability. I doubt when peace will return to Sahel region. The three core Sahelian states are Mauritania, Mali and Niger, though the geographical conditions – and therefore challenges – also affect parts of Burkina Faso and Chad. Many of the challenges impact on neighboring countries, including Nigeria and Algeria. Around 5000-strong troops were deployed across the Sahel as a part of a French operation headquartered in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena. The US contribution to French operations was limited to intelligence support, while Germany and the UK have shown little-to-no interest in France’s military-prioritised approach to the multi-layered crisis.
French troops had been present in Mali since 2013 when they intervened to force Tuareg militants and Al Qaeda-linked groups from power in towns across the country’s north. Known as Operation Serval, it was later replaced by Operation Barkhane and expanded to include Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania in an effort to help stabilise the broader Sahel region. The drawdown would mean the closure of French bases and stop the use of special forces who conducted anti-terror operations and provide military training to local armed forces. The Takuba operation consisted of around 600 European special forces based in Mali, half of whom were French, with 140 Swedes and several dozen forces from Estonia and the Czech Republic. France, United States and their Western alliance may be ceding ground to Russia in a critical geography where their counterterrorism efforts were central in preventing a rapid sway of terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Boko Haram across the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. In recent years, groups such as the Al-Qaeda affiliate group Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) have also grown strongly in the region. As a result of the withdrawal from Niger, the US would lose two military bases in the country that were critical for its regional counterterrorism efforts and hosted 1,000 troops. 
France in recent years has tried to internationalise and externalise counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel as the financial and political burden has become costly for Paris, which has failed to secure significant contributions from its allies. Western countries have long considered involvement in the Sahel as a risky move given the ever-growing presence of military groups and their role in arms and people smuggling. Coupled with the failed anti-insurgency efforts, civilian killings have prompted growing anti-French sentiment in the region where many question the presence of their former colonial power. The timing of the military withdrawal announcement is particularly interesting. Because of Sahel regional instability. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso military head of states believed military operations were the only solution to the crisis, underestimating the role of social and political factors in the rise of insurgency. There is a vacuum today in the Sahel peace strategy because the current picture, the Sahel’s insecurity stands as a symptom of a deeper crisis of governance and political instability. The lasting presence of France or Russia external operations cannot replace the return of the state and state services and political stability. It is clear that despite repeated operations the state has not returned in many areas.
Mali’s second coup in nine months has been a striking reminder to the international community of the importance of political stability in the fight against militancy. Late Chadian President Idriss Deby, an important ally and figure in France’s security apparatus died. His troops were deployed across the Sahel, supporting France which hailed Chadian troops for their success in the fight. Macron, despite his critics, backed the military council which took over the country following Deby’s death. France, United States and their Western alliance have suspended their joint military cooperations and withdrawn from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso forces and stopped providing defence advice after the junta in Mali staged another coup and deposed the civilian figures of the transitional government.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Tinubu removes DSS boss, appoints Ajayi as replacement
