The humanitarian impact of sanctions in the Sahel: a comparative study of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger

On February 24, 2024, ECOWAS formally announced the immediate lifting of economic, commercial, and diplomatic sanctions imposed on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following the most recent military coups. According to Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, the decision was driven by pressing humanitarian considerations. Although these sanctions were initially implemented to put pressure on the junta leaders to speed up the return to civilian governance, in fact, they resulted in severe humanitarian impacts, seriously affecting the livelihoods of millions of individuals across the region. Prior to the coups, nearly 20 million individuals were already living in difficult conditions, with approximately 500,000 displaced due to ongoing insecurity and economic instability. The sudden suspension of external financial aid and the disruption of essential services, such as the provision of education and healthcare, further aggravated the crisis. The thesis provides a detailed overview of the Sahel region’s instability, tracing the key political and social developments that led to the military coups. It examines the humanitarian situation in the affected countries before the sanctions were imposed, and highlights the worsening crisis that followed. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including academic publications, specialized articles, and reports from international organizations, the study offers a thorough analysis of the complex regional dynamics at play. The thesis also explains how the military-led governments, emboldened by strong popular support and solidarity among fellow coup leaders, successfully resisted external pressures. As the humanitarian crisis grew, it became increasingly clear that keeping the sanctions in place would only prolong the suffering of local populations. This realization led ECOWAS and other international bodies, such as the African Union, to reconsider their approach and eventually lift the restrictions. The study also looks at the broader effects of the sanctions and their removal, with a focus on the unintended consequences for both the targeted states and the sanctioning bodies. It discusses the so-called "boomerang effect," where the measures backfired, creating additional challenges for the countries that imposed them. Finally, the thesis stresses the importance of developing more proactive and preventive strategies to respond to unconstitutional changes of government. It highlights the need for strong democratic institutions and context-sensitive interventions to balance political stability with the protection of civilian welfare in the Sahel region.