Examining the effectiveness of the EU security-development strategy in tackling instability in the Sahel: The case for an alternative strategy?

ABSTRACT The G5 Sahel (Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad) was formed to counter terrorist group insurgencies within its member states. European Union involvement in this effort has revolved around enhancing political dialogue and peacebuilding strategies, but challenges persist, especially the threat of separatist movements combining forces with Islamic terrorist groups. The study explores the effectiveness of EU strategies in combatting instability in the Sahel region. This mixed-methods study uses the security-development nexus perspective conceptually, drawing qualitative data from secondary sources and quantitative data from the Fragile States Index, considering indicators for group grievances; state legitimacy; human rights and the rule of law; and security apparatus. The study hypothesises that the security situation in the G5 Sahel region is primarily a consequence of bad governance and political discrepancies within these states. It concludes that EU efforts should be directed towards enhancing long term state resilience internally, to better withstand terrorism.