The bear and the bot farm: Countering Russian hybrid warfare in Africa
Russia has many quiet enemies in Africa. Working together, like-minded Africans and Europeans can roll back its troublesome influence
Sahel
Harmattan hazards: How coastal west Africa can escape the Sahel’s fate
Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo face a double threat—from jihadists creeping south from the Sahel and coup plotters lurking within. As northern borders buckle, the region could slip into instability and away from Europe’s reach
5
Jun
Africa
Shifting Powers: the evolving US-China presence amid the growing role of Russia in Africa
As Africa becomes an increasingly central arena for Russia’s interests, the role of the United States and China is undergoing significant transformation. With Trump’s return to the White House, a broader US economic-military repositioning in Africa to contain external influences seems to occur, while Beijing continues to deepen its structural economic presence across the continent,…
5
Jun
European Power
Rome Foreign Policy Club 2025 – Come Undone: Europa e Italia tra frammentazione globale e vulnerabilità del vicinato
Nella sua edizione 2025, la quarta da quando il progetto è stato lanciato, il Rome Foreign Policy Club riunisce giovani think tanker italiani under-40 per elaborare ipotesi di scenario rilevanti per la politica estera e multilaterale italiana ed europea. Tale esercizio si pone come obiettivo la formulazione di raccomandazioni a supporto delle attività di policy…
Why France should close its permanent military bases in Africa
Chad and Senegal recently announced the end of their historic defence agreements with France. Now France should hand over its remaining military bases in Africa and work towards a more forward-thinking cooperation model
28
Nov
European Power
Countering disinformation as a global challenge
This international conference will discuss the main aspects of disinformation as a global challenge. It has been organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Rome in cooperation with the Embassy of Estonia in Rome; the Embassy of Republic of Latvia in Rome; the Embassy of Republic of Lithuania in Rome; the Embassy…
Africa
How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
A decade of military, humanitarian, and developmental European interventions in the Sahelian states of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have failed comprehensively. Yet, European governments must accept that engagement, however ugly, is their only hope of advancing their strategic priority of a stable Sahel region. In this event, ECFR Africa reflects on recent developments and…
Aligned in the sand: How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
Rather than disengaging from the coup belt, European governments should stay present and work to curb the worst of the chaos engulfing the region — and prevent rival powers from gaining the upper hand
Deserted: Europe’s dilemma in the Sahel
On Saturday, Germany became the latest European country to withdraw military forces from the Sahel. Other states may go further, closing embassies. But walking away, wagging a patronising white finger at states facing existential threats will do nothing to stabilise the region
21
Feb
Africa
The externalization of Europe’s borders: the only solution?
Migration in the Mediterranean has been a crisis factor for Europe for decades. To shed light on the issue, the discussion will revolve around ECFR’s policy brief edited by Lorena Stella Martini and Tarek Megerisi, which examines the case study of the Central Mediterranean route to analyse European externalization policies, focusing primarily on migration to Italy
Publications
The bear and the bot farm: Countering Russian hybrid warfare in Africa
Russia has many quiet enemies in Africa. Working together, like-minded Africans and Europeans can roll back its troublesome influence
Harmattan hazards: How coastal west Africa can escape the Sahel’s fate
Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo face a double threat—from jihadists creeping south from the Sahel and coup plotters lurking within. As northern borders buckle, the region could slip into instability and away from Europe’s reach
Aligned in the sand: How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
Rather than disengaging from the coup belt, European governments should stay present and work to curb the worst of the chaos engulfing the region — and prevent rival powers from gaining the upper hand
Articles
Why France should close its permanent military bases in Africa
Chad and Senegal recently announced the end of their historic defence agreements with France. Now France should hand over its remaining military bases in Africa and work towards a more forward-thinking cooperation model
Deserted: Europe’s dilemma in the Sahel
On Saturday, Germany became the latest European country to withdraw military forces from the Sahel. Other states may go further, closing embassies. But walking away, wagging a patronising white finger at states facing existential threats will do nothing to stabilise the region
Middle powers, big impact: Africa’s ‘coup belt,’ Russia, and the waning global order
The changing global order has created an enabling environment for the recent spike of takeovers in Africa’s ‘coup belt’ – with Russia and newly assertive middle powers offering themselves as partners to putschists
The roots of peace: Why Europeans should help re-establish support for local dialogue in the Sahel
It is necessary to move beyond overly militarised strategies for stabilisation in the Sahel. Local dialogue initiatives can address the roots of conflict – but require consistent buy-in from national governments
Events
5
Jun
Africa
Shifting Powers: the evolving US-China presence amid the growing role of Russia in Africa
As Africa becomes an increasingly central arena for Russia’s interests, the role of the United States and China is undergoing significant transformation. With Trump’s return to the White House, a broader US economic-military repositioning in Africa to contain external influences seems to occur, while Beijing continues to deepen its structural economic presence across the continent,…
5
Jun
European Power
Rome Foreign Policy Club 2025 – Come Undone: Europa e Italia tra frammentazione globale e vulnerabilità del vicinato
Nella sua edizione 2025, la quarta da quando il progetto è stato lanciato, il Rome Foreign Policy Club riunisce giovani think tanker italiani under-40 per elaborare ipotesi di scenario rilevanti per la politica estera e multilaterale italiana ed europea. Tale esercizio si pone come obiettivo la formulazione di raccomandazioni a supporto delle attività di policy…
28
Nov
European Power
Countering disinformation as a global challenge
This international conference will discuss the main aspects of disinformation as a global challenge. It has been organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Rome in cooperation with the Embassy of Estonia in Rome; the Embassy of Republic of Latvia in Rome; the Embassy of Republic of Lithuania in Rome; the Embassy…
Africa
How Europeans can help stabilise the Sahel
A decade of military, humanitarian, and developmental European interventions in the Sahelian states of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have failed comprehensively. Yet, European governments must accept that engagement, however ugly, is their only hope of advancing their strategic priority of a stable Sahel region. In this event, ECFR Africa reflects on recent developments and…
21
Feb
Africa
The externalization of Europe’s borders: the only solution?
Migration in the Mediterranean has been a crisis factor for Europe for decades. To shed light on the issue, the discussion will revolve around ECFR’s policy brief edited by Lorena Stella Martini and Tarek Megerisi, which examines the case study of the Central Mediterranean route to analyse European externalization policies, focusing primarily on migration to Italy
2
Dec
Africa
Sahel-North Africa-Europe: Addressing the vertical pathway of instability
A panel discussion organized in collaboration with the Regional Program Political Dialogue South Mediterranean of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in the framework of the 8th edition of the Rome MED – Mediterranean Dialogues, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
15
Feb
Africa
What way forward for Europe in the Sahel?
The European Council on Foreign Relations is delighted to invite you to our webinar on what the latest developments mean for Europe’s engagement in the Sahel.
In the media
Alex Vines on the current and potential political instability in Africa caused by economic struggles, and its impact on regional growth
Their key focus is on the Sahel region, on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, where a series of coups has brought pro-Russian strongmen to power
Will Brown on Russia wanting to present itself in Africa as a counterweight to the US and Europe
They are at best stuck, and at worst gradually losing the fight
Will Brown on the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger claiming they are winning the fight against insurgents
While Russia remains a potent player in parts of Africa, recent events in the Sahelian states have shown that Russian forces are deeply overstretched and losing credibility
Will Brown analyses recent developments in the Sahel that impact on Russian influence in Africa