Description: Leveraging trade ties, the Trump administration has reportedly established contacts with the military junta leadership of the Sahel countries through State Department and other government officials. According to Troy Fitrell, the State Department’s official for African affairs, the current US administration would be aiming at establishing trade ties with Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali in return for security guarantees in their combat against terrorist organizations and other armed insurgents. Rudolph Atallah, security and counterterrorism advisor to the US President, visited Mali in Jul, where he reportedly outlined such proposals to the current government in the conflict-ridden country. Another State Department official, William B. Stevens, also supported the initiative stating that the US, despite the raising influence from Russia and China in the region could complement government security forces in combating terrorist threats through intelligence support, military equipment and even the deployment of private military contractors. Mali and Burkina Faso are among Africa’s largest gold and lithium producers, while Niger possesses one of the world’s largest uranium deposits.
Impact: Western influence in general has been significantly reduced in the past couple of years on the African continent where Russian mercenary groups such as Wagner and the Africa Corps have substituted presence from western countries such as France, which has gradually degraded its military and soft power presence in recent months. With the cessation of US foreign aid programs such as USAID, soft power influence outreach has been considerably reduced which enabled China and Russia – sponsored groups and state entities to exert closer ties with the military juntas of the Sahel region. The US currently prioritizes rare earth mineral development with agreements concluded in Ukraine and DR Congo, but with both peace initiatives stalling, the Trump administration would be aiming at diversifying its foreign outreach in Africa, despite starting from a disadvantageous position. US presence in the Sahel, signals the region’s attractiveness to global powers and its significance in modern day economy impacting sectors such as AI development, energy and other industrial areas. Immediate US insertion isn’t expected, however, the Sahel is evidently on the US long – term global agenda, rivaling Russia and China on the African continent.