The rich diversity and potential of West Africa and the Sahel are increasingly undercut by a set of complex and interconnected security, socio-economic and environmental challenges. The result of this combination of factors, such as insurgencies, presence of malign actors, land degradation and food insecurity, and lacking opportunity, is a deterioration of security in large parts of the region despite a range of national and international efforts. At the same time, both the regional and international context and relations are fast-changing, with developments shaped by a diverse set of newly connected actors.
This high-level roundtable will create an opportunity to step back and consider these challenges afresh.