From 25 to 26 July 2024, the fourth edition of the Sahel-Europe Dialogue Forum was held. This academic forum, which was created in 2021 within the Centre for International Security of the Centre for the Global Common Good of the Francisco de Vitoria University (Madrid-Spain), maintained its objective of addressing the constant evolution of the international context and that of West Africa in each of its activities. It fostered dialogue between the various actors involved in the multidimensional crisis in the Sahel and provided recommendations to stakeholders to adapt their strategies to the realities on the ground.
Since the last session in July 2023, the political, security and diplomatic context of the Sahel countries had undergone significant changes. During the 2024 edition, special attention was paid to factors such as the ongoing political and institutional reforms in countries in transition, the new dynamics of the Alliance of Sahel States and the alarming expansion of violent extremist organisations into the countries of the Gulf of Guinea, among other challenges. This forum served as a critical platform for in-depth analysis and reflection, bringing together international and Sahelian analysts, decision-makers, academics in touch with the reality on the ground, governments, international organisations, military and diplomatic actors, and civil society and humanitarian organisations.
Throughout the discussions, lessons learned and best practices were analysed in the areas of security, diplomacy, humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, development and the promotion of good governance and human rights. The forum sought to contribute to the search for sustainable solutions for communities affected by the complex multidimensional crisis in the region. This year, cultural activities were included, such as a traditional tea ceremony and a photographic exhibition, as well as the sale of handicrafts from the region.
In this way, the fourth edition of the Sahel-Europe Dialogue Forum provided a space for exchange and reflection for around a hundred key actors involved in peace and stability in the Sahel and in West Africa as a whole. The forum provided an opportunity to analyse the rapidly changing context and to design strategies that would contribute to building lasting peace and sustainable development in the region.
Publications reflecting the forum's conclusions will be published in French, English and Spanish between January and March 2025.
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