Coraggio!
Women and Diplomacy in the Sahel: What Future for the EU-Africa Partnership?

On June 7, 2024, an important meeting organized by the Hanns Seidel Foundation and the Associazione Amici di Luigi Vittorio Ferraris, as part of the cycle Coraggio! was held at the Spazio Sette bookstore in Rome. The event, entitled Women and Diplomacy in the Sahel: What Future for the EU-Africa Partnership?, was attended by Professor Emanuela Del Re, EU Special Representative for the Sahel and former Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

 

The meeting offered an in-depth analysis of the complex reality of the Sahel, a region that stretches between Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The central role that Europe has played for years in this vast area was discussed, with economic, social, political and military initiatives aimed at consolidating cooperation and promoting development. However, it emerged how Europe faces significant challenges today in an increasingly critical context, especially for girls and women in the region. Indeed, flight, poverty, and discrimination are seriously affecting the future prospects of adolescent girls in Mali and Burkina Faso.

 

Under the moderation of Elisabetta Grassia, Technical Assistant on EU-Africa programs and AALVF member, Professor Del Re offered an expert and personal look at the topics discussed, emphasizing the urgency of strengthening the partnership between the European Union and Africa to address the most pressing issues, including women's empowerment, security and sustainable development.

 

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to reflect not only on the problems of the present, but also on the possibilities of building a more equitable and inclusive future for Sahel communities, especially for young women who face the toughest challenges.