The recent visit of Nick Checker, head of the US State Department’s African Affairs Bureau, to Mali signals a renewed American presence in the Sahel. However, Washington is adopting a revised strategy in the region, pivoting toward three core pillars: a stronger commercial focus—particularly on mineral resources—a recalibrated security approach with fewer permanent military deployments, and a shift from broad humanitarian aid to targeted economic and security partnerships.
This strategic adjustment reflects a broader geopolitical shift, as the United States seeks to balance its interests amid rising competition with global powers like Russia and China in resource-rich African nations.
Expert analysis: Dr. Gnaka Lagoke on US-Sahel relations
US foreign policy under Trump: What’s changing in the Sahel?
DW: Dr. Gnaka Lagoke, Nick Checker met with Mali’s Foreign Minister and interim leader Assimi Goïta during his trip to Bamako. How is the Trump administration reshaping US foreign policy in the Sahel? What are its key objectives in West Africa?
Following the ousting of Niger’s President Bazoum, the United States took a markedly different stance compared to France, which pushed for military intervention to reinstate him. Instead of escalating tensions, Washington chose restraint—even after Niger’s new authorities demanded the closure of US military bases and a full withdrawal.
This pragmatic approach continued under the Biden administration. Now, with rising global tensions between Russia and China, US policymakers—including elements of the ‘deep state’—are advocating for a stronger focus on both security and economic interests, particularly given the region’s vast mineral wealth.
This aligns with broader US strategy in countries like Venezuela, Iran, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where securing critical resources remains a top priority. The Sahel is no exception.
Why is Nigeria becoming the US’s key partner in West Africa?
DW: With no permanent US military bases in Niger, why has Nigeria emerged as Washington’s preferred partner in the region?
When President Trump intervened under the pretext of protecting Nigerian Christians from Islamist militants, the US conducted airstrikes in northern Nigeria with the approval of Abuja. While these strikes failed to dismantle militant networks—a point widely acknowledged by analysts—the move likely served deeper economic interests, such as access to Nigeria’s oil and other strategic resources.
This reflects the same security-economic calculus driving US policy in the Sahel. It’s reasonable to expect new military basing arrangements in the region, possibly in countries like Benin or Côte d’Ivoire, where US forces have already relocated from Niger.
What advantages could the Alliance of Sahel States gain from cooperating with Trump’s America?
The US is offering a rare diplomatic lifeline to members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which Western powers like France and the EU have ostracized. This presents a strategic opportunity. Additionally, as global power blocs like the BRICS gain influence, African nations now have greater negotiating leverage—and the US is eager to capitalize on this dynamic.
Washington’s rhetoric emphasizes respect for Mali’s and its allies’ sovereignty, a message likely to resonate regionally. However, historical patterns suggest complex, often opaque alliances involving France, the US, and others—raising questions about whether this approach is driven by genuine partnership or regime-change ambitions. Only time will tell.
