October 12, 2013: A group of people on a train in Nuadibu, Mauritania.

It has been almost ten years since the beginning of the security crisis in the Sahel. In the throes of multiple insurgencies, Sahelian countries and their foreign allies seem to be aware of the limits of military containment. While the international community is working on a new military roadmap, the upcoming January publication of the report, “Sahel: Moving Beyond Military Containment” offers the opportunity to focus on development issues, too often undermined in the international agenda.

In this unprecedented gathering, the ministers of economy and/or development of the G5 Sahel (Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) and the United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel are invited to share their vision of the future of their region, from an economic, social and human point of view. Donors can help by moving away from anti-terror kinetic operations towards civilian protection and projects that better embed the state in local social relations and strengthen local communities in the face of difficult natural conditions.

Join the Africa Center and the Policy Center for the New South for a virtual summit on Thursday, December 9, 2021, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. ET. Speakers will address moving beyond military containment in the Sahel and an African vision of the Sahel’s future.

Agenda

3:00 – 3:05 p.m. (ET)

Welcome and opening remarks

Frederick Kempe, President and CEO, Atlantic Council
Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, United Nations Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel

Work Session 1: An African vision of Sahel’s future

Panel discussion with the G5 Ministers of Economic/Development Affairs:
H.E. Mr. Issa Doubragne, Minister of Economy, Planification of Development and International Cooperation, Chad
H.E. Mr. Alousseni Sanou, Minister of Economy and Finances, Mali
H.E. Mr. Ousmane Mamoudou Kane, Minister of Economic Affairs and Promotion of Productive Sectors, Mauritania
H.E. Mr. Saadou Bakoye, Secretary General with the Ministry of Planning, Niger

MODERATED BY
Amb. Rama Yade, Senior Director, Africa Center, Atlantic Council

3:05 – 4:05 p.m. (ET)
4:05 – 4:10 p.m. (ET)

Closing remarks

General William Ward, Inaugural Commander, US AfriCom
Otaviano Canuto, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

Opening remarks

Cameron Hudson, Senior Fellow, Africa Center, Atlantic Council

4:10 – 4:15 p.m. (ET)
4:15 – 4:30 p.m. (ET)

Work session 2: Around the report “Sahel: Moving beyond military containment”

Pierre Englebert, Senior Fellow, Africa Center, Atlantic Council
Rida Lyammouri, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South

MODERATED BY
Nicholas Norbrook, Journalist, Jeune Afrique/Africa Report

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