Four Sahel countries need economic shift to foster long-term development, says report
A recently published report by the Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) suggests that a dual economic strategy focusing on domestic economic development and international partnerships could help build more resilient institutions and foster long-term development in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Sudan.
Titled “Political Instability and Economic Development in the Sahel: Governance in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Sudan since 2000”, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the political instability and economic challenges facing the region. It evaluates scores from the Berggruen Governance Index (BGI), which is based on data from 2000 to 2019.
According to the report, these four countries rank among the 20 lowest ranked nations on the United Nations’ Human Development Index and have experienced at least one coup or coup attempt since 2020. This political upheaval, the report argues, is both the result and the cause of economic difficulty. The report also attributes much of the challenges facing these countries on unsustainable economic policies, which focus on the export of raw materials.
“The effects of this legacy can be felt until the present day and have resulted in a hugely uneven distribution of wealth as well as corruption, rent seeking and uneven infrastructure,” the report finds.
The report also highlights the dependence of these countries on overseas development aid (ODA), which makes them more susceptible to the policies of their donors. With the scaling back of military engagement in the Sahel by former colonial powers such as France, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, the report suggests that this leaves the door open for other players such as Russia and China.
In the Sahel region, most of the economic output comes from exporting raw materials, with gold being the primary export for countries like Burkina Faso and Mali. However, with elites competing over these resources, politics becomes a “zero sum” game, with no one trying to develop the economy further. This dynamic, the report says, also serves as an explanation for the recent rash of coups in the region.
The climate crisis also adds to the situation as erratic rainfall exacerbates malnutrition, indirectly contributing to violence. However, the Sahel also has potential for generating solar power, which could be developed through partnerships with more developed countries or international donors.
“The public goods improvements we have witnessed in the Sahel are likely unsustainable in the context of low (and often declining) democratic accountability and a continued reliance of extractive export models and subsistence agriculture,” the report says.
The report concludes that if the states in the Sahel area emphasize domestic economic development, including a focus on the production of value-added goods and sustainable agriculture, they can build resilience and reduce dependency on external actors.
In the face of the rising influence of Russia and China, the report suggests that the European Union’s best chance at facilitating strong connections and countering geopolitical competitors is by building strong economic ties and mutually beneficial relationships.
The report also highlights the coverage of the Democracy News Alliance (DNA) on the situation in the Sahel region. The DNA is a close co-operation between Agence France-Presse (AFP, France), Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA, Italy), The Canadian Press (CP, Canada), Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa, Germany) and PA Media (PA, UK). All recipients can use this material without the need for a separate subscription agreement with one or more of the participating agencies.
The DNA content is an independent journalistic service that operates separately from the other services of the participating agencies. It is produced by editorial units that are not involved in the production of the agencies’ main news services. Nevertheless, the editorial standards of the agencies and their assurance of completely independent, impartial and unbiased reporting also apply here.
Contact: Christian Röwekamp, Democracy News Alliance, roewekamp.christian@dpa.com
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.