As the United Nations adapts its approach to the Sahel, the region faces significant challenges that require thoughtful and innovative solutions. With the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces from Mali, the UN is pivoting towards diplomatic efforts and humanitarian assistance, acknowledging the growing emphasis on sovereignty and self-determination among Sahelian nations. The landscape is marked by a shift in alliances and regional cooperation, underscoring the need for collaborative strategies to address ongoing crises of displacement, insecurity, and food scarcity.
For a decade, the United Nations’s most visible role in the Sahel was its peacekeeping mission in Mali. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established by the Security Council in 2013, designed to stabilize a region fraught with challenges. However, its mandate was terminated in June 2023 at the request of Mali’s transitional government, completing its withdrawal by the end of the year. Notably, the conclusion of MINUSMA did not signify an end to the UN’s engagement with the Sahel, as its political involvement continues through the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), focusing on humanitarian and development efforts.
The atmosphere in which the UN operates has evolved significantly. By January 29, 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially departed from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), fostering deeper cooperation among themselves via the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This shift underscores their commitment to sovereignty and strategic autonomy, further complicating the humanitarian landscape that remains fraught with challenges, including displacement, food insecurity, and violence.
Currently, the UN’s role hinges more on diplomacy, mediation, and humanitarian assistance than military presence. UNOWAS operates as a special political mission that emphasizes preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention. Experts, including political analyst Mubarak Aliyu, note that the influence of the UN is now more constrained as the AES prioritizes its own governance frameworks over established external partnerships. This changing paradigm, particularly with regard to Russia’s growing involvement in the region, highlights the complexity of the security dynamics at play.
As political conditions transform across West Africa, the UN is set to reassess its strategies. In February 2026, the Security Council extended UNOWAS’s mandate to January 31, 2029, while commissioning an independent strategic review to refine its approach amid a landscape characterized by military governance and a rising emphasis on national sovereignty.
The foundations of this shifting political landscape urge the UN to adapt its engagement, prioritizing diplomatic and development solutions rather than traditional peacekeeping missions. Kabir Adamu, a security expert, advocates for a focus on effective security sector governance and reform, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts that address the fundamental causes of instability. To maintain its relevance, the UN needs to work closely with regional organizations and support frameworks that enhance collaborative security partnerships.
Although peacekeeping forces have retreated, the pressing issues in the Sahel remain. Humanitarian crises characterized by displacement and food insecurity persist, driven by compounded vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change and weak state structures. Despite these obstacles, the UN can enhance its humanitarian work by empowering local capacities and emphasizing governance and resilience, moving toward sustainable and multidimensional stability.
The opening of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2026 arrives against the backdrop of these profound changes in the Sahel. With peacekeeping forces absent and significant regional realignment underway, the UN’s potential role becomes less about shaping outcomes and more about acting as an advocate and service provider. Even amidst these challenges of insecurity, displacement, and climate pressures, the UN’s ability to foster dialogue and support humanitarian operations remains crucial for the region’s future stability.
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