UN Rethinks Its Role in a Changing Sahel as Governments Push for Greater Sovereignty

The United Nations is facing a changing political and security environment in the Sahel as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger place greater emphasis on national sovereignty and strategic autonomy.

The shift comes as the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly gets underway, with the UN’s role in the region increasingly focused on diplomacy, humanitarian assistance and development rather than large-scale peacekeeping operations.

The UN’s most visible security presence in the Sahel was previously its peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). The mission was established in 2013, but Mali’s transitional government requested its withdrawal in 2023, with the operation completing its departure by the end of that year.

However, the UN has continued its engagement through the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), alongside humanitarian and development programmes.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 29, 2025. The three countries have also strengthened cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which promotes sovereignty and strategic autonomy.

Despite the reduction in international military involvement, the region continues to face armed violence, displacement, food insecurity, organised crime and climate-related pressures.

Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said the UN's influence has become more limited as the three Sahel countries develop alternative regional and security partnerships, including closer ties with Russia.

Mubarak Aliyu, a Nigerian political and security analyst, said the UN has fewer mechanisms through which it can influence developments in the AES countries. He also pointed to Russia’s growing role in supporting the military governments in the region.

Kabir Adamu, founder and managing director of Beacon Security and Innovations Limited, said the UN should focus more on security-sector reform, preventive diplomacy and development rather than returning to large-scale peacekeeping deployments.

The UN Security Council extended UNOWAS's mandate until January 31, 2029, in February 2026 and requested an independent strategic review of its mandate and activities, which is expected to be completed by September 30, 2026.

The changing regional structure has also created challenges for cooperation. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are no longer part of ECOWAS, while the AES has emerged as a separate framework for their political and security cooperation.

Experts have suggested that the UN should strengthen cooperation with regional organisations and initiatives, including the African Union, ECOWAS, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the Accra Initiative.

Meanwhile, humanitarian needs remain significant. The UN continues to support efforts addressing displacement, food insecurity, conflict, climate pressures and other challenges affecting communities across the Sahel.

The 81st UN General Assembly session opened on September 8, 2026, with its General Debate scheduled to begin on September 22.

With no UN peacekeeping mission currently operating in Mali and the AES countries pursuing greater strategic autonomy, the organisation's role in the Sahel is increasingly centred on diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, development and dialogue rather than military intervention.

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share