By Nadine Rugwe*
The Sahel region, rich in natural and human resources, stands at a crossroads. Endowed with significant natural wealth, including oil, natural gas, gold, phosphates, and vast renewable energy potential, the Sahel could be a bastion of stability and prosperity. Yet, this potential is overshadowed by persistent insecurity, political instability, and environmental challenges.
Recent history in West Africa is marked by frequent unconstitutional changes of government (six between 2020 and 2024 ) and climate catastrophes that have disrupted lives and deepened poverty in the region. The Sahel’s paradox is its wealth lying dormant amidst these crises, as reflected by its consistent low rankings on the Human Development Index, with at least 4 out of the 10 Sahel Countries constantly ranked among the bottom 10 countries.
Therefore, the importance of good governance cannot be overstated. It is a bedrock upon which countries can build resilience, equity, and prosperity. Historical movements across Senegal (Y’en a marre), Burkina Faso (Balai Citoyen), Nigeria (Occupy Nigeria), and many others signal a widespread demand for responsive and inclusive governance. The complexity of jihadist insurgencies and massive displacement further necessitates robust regional cooperation.
Rebuilding the Sahel requires a shift from power-centric approaches to those centred on the Sahelian people. Investments must transition from maintaining power to building self-reliance and resilience among communities. Through civic empowerment, community development, local governance, and local economic development, people will feel the real essence of democracy, which can be defined as the power of the people. When people lack power and fundamental rights, their discontent can contribute to national and regional instability.
The 2023 UNDP report on “Journey to Violent Extremism in Africa” revealed that among the 48% of voluntary recruits that had experienced a trigger event, as many as 71% experienced short, punctuated and sharp escalations of human rights abuses, (32%), the killing of a family member or friend (29%) and the arrest of a family member (10%). In Africa, numerous ongoing debates around insecurity influence people to move away from their home community, while several developed countries are raising the debate around migration. While both phenomena are true, the root causes could be better assessed to understand the triggers rather than addressing the manifestations. Though the latter are more visible, the root causes remain more devastating. When people are denied their rights and suffer from constant discontent, their contribution to development is minimal or non-existent.
Increased investment should be made in restoring constructive relationships between public officials at all levels and the people. There is an urgent need to restore the social contract and the public trust, without which key stakeholders cannot meaningfully contribute to development and peacebuilding in the Sahel.
The call for change is loud and clear. The desire for improved governance and security, cited by 44% of respondents supporting recent military takeovers in the UNDP report “Soldiers and Citizens,” reflects profound disillusionment. Addressing this trust deficit, building transparency and ensuring quality public services are critical to building a mutually reinforcing relationship that can enhance state effectiveness and stimulate stability. Initiatives aimed at public sector transformation and civic engagement are vital.
People-centred policies and renewed social contracts are crucial, but they alone cannot transform the Sahel. As the region grapples with the effects of poverty and climate change, a balanced approach that combines security measures with significant development investments to prevent and respond to popular discontent is needed.
According to UNDP’s 2023 Sahel Human Development Report, nearly half of the 362 million people in the Sahel lack access to electricity despite the region’s vast renewable energy potential and having one of the world’s highest solar production capacities – 13.9 billion kWh/y compared to the total global consumption of 20 billion kWh/y. Similarly, water scarcity and inadequate education continue to hinder development. Recent data reveals that a child born in the Sahel can expect to attend school for 3 years, compared with 7.8 years in the rest of the world while nearly 40% of Africa’s population cannot access a safe water source according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Furthermore, a recent World Bank report revealed that in five countries in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger), an estimated 10.2 million people were food insecure from June to August 2023. Out of these, more than 900,000 people were in emergencies, and in Burkina Faso and Mali, more than 45,000 faced famines. In contexts where the basic needs of water, food, energy, and education are not met, the development trajectory of the countries and their people cannot be guaranteed. Hence, governance will be questioned if it does not serve the well-being of the people.
It is imperative to centre Sahel engagement on the needs of its people, foster responsive leadership, and revive the development journey. Building on positive trends, like the cessation of unconstitutional government changes and the adoption of the Pact for Future, the Sahel has a unique opportunity to redefine its future.
The Sahel can unlock its full potential by empowering its people, restoring trust in leadership, and uniting against adversity. This process will require significant regional and global partnerships and a collective commitment to creating sustainable, community-based solutions for the challenges ahead. Focusing on the rights and needs of the Sahelian people will pave the way for peace and prosperity in the region.
*Nadine Rugwe is Governance and Peacebuilding Advisor, UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa.
