A French and a Malian soldier talk during a deployment as part of Operation Barkhane in February 2021. The United States and Europe lost influence in the Sahel after a wave of military coups from 2021 to 2023, but could rebuild it. (French Army/Eric B.)

How America Can Rebuild Influence in the Sahel

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In the early 2020s, the United States was largely displaced by Russia in the Sahel—but the Kremlin’s high-profile failures there have opened the door to America’s return.

The United States has a new opportunity to make inroads in West Africa, but the same circumstances creating this opening should serve as a cautionary tale for American officials.

A recent major offensive from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a West African Al-Qaeda affiliate, has given the group and its partners control over significant portions of northern Mali. While the Malian junta has kept its grip on power, it is undoubtedly weakened and humiliated, as are its Russian partners. The moment is a chance for the United States to advance counterterror cooperation with the Malian authorities, diminish malignant Russian influence, and gain access to critical minerals.

As enticing as this opportunity seems, US officials should tread with caution. The offensive and Russia’s failures in the Sahel illustrate the major challenges the United States will face in trying to form deep partnerships in the region. The United States should forge an approach that addresses immediate American security aims, like protecting US citizens and businesses, and focus on opportunities in Mali and the surrounding region for sustainable cooperation. This contrasts with the recent Russian approach in Mali: rushing neck-deep into an unstable partnership with leaders who may be replaced in the near future, leaving the Kremlin little to show for its efforts.

In the Sahel, Russia Has Shown the United States What Not to Do

Fortunately for American officials, Russia has foreshadowed the challenges that lie ahead for the US and any other prospective partners. Following a series of major........

© The National Interest