On 22 April 2026, EPLO co-hosted a high-level roundtable discussion with Geneva Call, exploring how the EU’s renewed approach to the Sahel can be implemented in practice, with a particular focus on humanitarian engagement with armed groups and de facto authorities (AGDAs).
The discussion took place against the backdrop of a severe and multi-layered crisis. Nearly 29 million people in the Sahel are in urgent need, humanitarian access is increasingly constrained, and regional instability continues to spill beyond the region’s borders. Over 210 million people worldwide live under the influence or control of armed groups and de facto authorities, making principled engagement with these actors an essential component of any credible protection strategy.
The roundtable brought together David Korpela, Head of Cabinet of the EU Special Representative for the Sahel, who presented the EU’s new approach to the region, and Mehwash Ansari, Geneva Call’s Regional Head of Programme and Development in Africa and LATAM, who shared operational insights from the field.
Participants examined how sustained, confidential engagement with armed groups and de facto authorities, combined with community-level dialogue and attention to local norms, customs and religion, can support civilian protection and promote respect for international humanitarian law. Particular attention was given to food security and education as priority areas where such engagement has demonstrated concrete impact.
The exchange also reflected on how humanitarian engagement with armed actors can feed into broader peacebuilding efforts in the Sahel and West Africa, and on the importance of maintaining principled dialogue even in the most complex operating environments.
We are always open to organising roundtable discussions and Brown Bag Lunch events with our members. If you are interested, please contact our Programme Officer Carlotta Venza.
