Who We Are

We are an informal and diverse alliance of civil society organizations primarily based in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, as well as in other Sahel countries, with support from regional and international organisations.

Individually, Coalition partners provide crucial humanitarian relief, resolve local conflicts and peacebuilding efforts, monitor and publicise human rights abuses and atrocities, advocate for the rights and protection of Sahelian citizens, and support the peaceful mobilisation of Sahelians for better practices and accountability from their governments.  

Together, we form one collective to elevate specific recommendations to improve the effectiveness of government interventions in the Sahel at addressing the protection needs of Sahelian civilians. We urge Sahelian governments and states elsewhere who have invested economic, military, and political capital in the Sahel region to shape their engagement in the Sahel by: 

1. Putting the protection of civilians and human rights security at the heart of their response

2. Creating a comprehensive political strategy to address the root causes of insecurity

3. Responding to humanitarian emergencies and ensuring that aid is responsive to development

4. Combatting impunity and ensuring access to justice for all Sahelian citizens

These four points are elaborated in more detail in the People’s Pillars, our founding document, which sets out the priorities that we urge all actors in the Sahel to adopt. The Pillars were launched at an online public event watched by thousands of people on 16 July 2020. As a next step, the Coalition will monitor how states are implementing the People’s Pillars through a series of benchmark measurement reports. The first report was released in spring 2021.