Expert warns Scholz' government - why Mali must not become our "Sahelistan".

Created: 02/17/2022, 10:43 am

By: Pia Rolfs

Mali in memory of fallen soldiers.

© picture alliance/dpa/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA/Nicolas Remene

In an interview, expert Antonia Witt talks about the situation in West Africa, the series of coup attempts and the necessary lessons from Afghanistan.

Frankfurt am Main - There have recently been coups or attempted coups in many West African countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

Antonia Witt from the Hessian Foundation for Peace and Conflict Research (PRIF) explains in an interview why this is and what role great powers play in it.

Witt studied African Studies and Political Science, worked at universities in South Africa and Ethiopia.

Merkur: Are there connections in West Africa between the coups and coup attempts in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau?

Antonia Witt: UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently spoke of an “epidemic of coups”.

Indeed, since 1999 there have not been as many coups across Africa as there have been in the past 12 months.

This is a very worrying situation that definitely has connections.

There is contagion in the sense that a successful coup in one country fuels potential coup plotters in the neighboring country.

Nevertheless, the very specific causes in the individual countries are much more decisive.

But of course there are also similarities, such as the role of the military in politics.

In what way?

Despite formal democratization, there is still a very strong military presence in political processes and the danger that it will intervene in them.

This is particularly the case in francophone West Africa.

Burkina Faso: Disappointed with democracy so far

Isn't democracy anchored in these countries yet?

In Burkina Faso in particular, the population campaigned very strongly for democracy and risked a great deal to do so in 2015/2015.

But the experience of democracy so far has been disappointing.

For example, the election in the year before last could not take place in all parts of the country because of the security situation.

Do great powers play a crucial role in recent developments?

Yes, the return of great power politics in this region has been underestimated.

Of course, in many African countries it is about resources, in Guinea it is bauxite.

But for Russia, West Africa is also a strategic arena for demonstrating power.

Members of the federal government have also recently made increasing statements about Mali as a theater of great power politics.

I still think it's dangerous if you only look at the situation there through these glasses.

Mali: Cooperation with government and civil society

How do you assess the situation in Mali?

Could it be a second Afghanistan?

There was talk of “Sahelistan” early on.

I believe it is actually time to take a look at what Germany wants in Mali, with what means and with what cooperation these goals can be achieved.

And of course that can only happen in cooperation with the Malian side, which means not only with the government but also with civil society.

In Afghanistan you can now see afterwards where you made mistakes.

One must learn from Afghanistan for Mali, in that this process of reflection takes place now – not only when it is too late.

What is in store for Europe from West Africa - for example in relation to the flow of refugees or the danger of Islamism?

I don't think the internally displaced people will continue to flee to Europe.

But when many countries or large parts of them are ruled by Islamists, that is a frightening development.

That alone should be enough to get the West involved.

In general, the focus should not always be on the event of the coup, but more on the complex crises that precede these coups.

Interview: Pia Rolfs.