HE SAHEL T M THE SECURITy– IVE FRO The nexus of security, migration and development in Africa is crucial, T but certainly not only because of the flows of migrants coming to PEC MIGRATion– Europe. It is evident that development, migration, peace and securi- S ER P DEVELOPMENT ty are connected in several ways, but more light needs to be shed on A the concrete effects of their interactions. In this complex framework, : D NEXUS REVISED: the Sahel region represents an important region where the security– E migration–development nexus is particularly present and deserves S EVI A PERSPECTIVE further analysis. This research aims at re-conceptualizing this nexus R through the analysis of this linkage in the Sahel region, and in par- S FROM THE SAHEL ticular vis-à-vis three case countries: Niger, Senegal and Sudan. The EXU N publication also recasts the European Union and the United States T approaches to these dynamics and explores current and potential EN partnerships in the region. M FEPS is the progressive political foundation established at the European level. Created in 2007, it aims at establishing an intellec- tual crossroad between social democracy and the European project. ion–Develop T As a platform for ideas and dialogue, FEPS works in close collabora- tion with social democratic organizations, and in particular national foundations and think tanks across and beyond Europe, to tackle y–Migra the challenges that we are facing today. FEPS inputs fresh thinking T at the core of its action and serves as an instrument for pan-Euro- pean, intellectual political reflection. IAI is a private, independent non-profit think tank, founded in 1965 THE SECURI on the initiative of Altiero Spinelli. IAI seeks to promote awareness of international politics and to contribute to the advancement of European integration and multilateral cooperation. IAI is part of a vast international research network, and interacts and cooperates with the Italian government and its ministries, European and inter- national institutions, universities, major national economic actors, Bashair AHMED the media and the most authoritative international think tanks. Mahamadou DANDA Audra K. GRANT Vassilis NTOUSAS This book is edited by FEPS and IAI with the financial support of the Luca RAINERI European Parliament. Alessandro ROSSI Souleymane SAGNA Ernst STETTER Nathalie TOCCI Bernardo VENTURI THE SECURITy–MigraTion– DEVELOPMENT NEXUS REVISED: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE SAHEL EDITED BY BERNARDO VENTURI Published by FEPS Foundation for European Progressive Studies Rue Montoyer 40, 4th floor B-1000 Brussels, Belgium T: +32 2 234 69 00 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.feps-europe.eu/en Twitter: @FEPS_Europe IAI Istituto Affari Internazionali Via Angelo Brunetti 9 I-00186 Rome, Italy T: +39 063224360 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.iai.it Twitter: @IAIonline Copyright © 2017 by Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) The present study does not represent the collective views of FEPS and IAI but only of the authors. The responsibility of FEPS and IAI is limited to approving its publi- cation as worthy of consideration of the global progressive movement. With the financial support of the European Parliament The present study does not represent the European Parliament’s views. Edited by Bernardo Venturi FEPS project coordinator: Vassilis Ntousas IAI project coordinator: Bernardo Venturi Cover design: Annabella Cuomo Cover photo: Vassilis Ntousas (Niamey, Niger, March 2017) Page layout: Luca Mozzicarelli – Nuova Cultura, Rome, Italy Printed by Edizioni Nuova Cultura, Rome ISBN 9788868129729 TABLE OF CONTENts Foreward Ernst Stetter and Nathalie Tocci 7 Introduction Bernardo Venturi and Vassilis Ntousas 9 Chapter 1 The Security–Migration–Development Nexus in the Sahel: A Reality Check Luca Raineri and Alessandro Rossi 13 Chapter 2 The Security–Migration–Development Nexus in the Sahel: A View from Niger Mahamadou Danda 35 Chapter 3 The Security–Migration–Development Nexus in the Sahel: A View from Senegal Souleymane Sagna 57 Chapter 4 The Security–Migration–Development Nexus in the Sahel: A View from Sudan Bashair Ahmed 85 Chapter 5 The EU and the Sahel: A Laboratory of Experimentation for the Security– Migration–Development Nexus Bernardo Venturi 109 Chapter 6 US Policy in the Sahel: Shifting Strategies amid Shifting Threats in a Volatile Region Audra K. Grant 129 Chapter 7 Notes for Further Research Bernardo Venturi and Vassilis Ntousas 153 Abbreviations and Acronyms 157 Contributors 163 FOREWORD FOREWORD Ernst STETTER AND NatHALIE TOcci For a progressive Europe that aspires to a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Africa, disentangling stereotypes from reality is key. Africa matters, but not because of the flows of migrants com- ing to Europe’s shores, and the security risks these flows may pose, as some forces would have us believe. The nexus of se- curity, migration and development in Africa is crucial, but un- fortunately often hijacked by voices in both continents that do not want the relationship between Europe and Africa to flour- ish. To support their claims, fake data and misguided assump- tions are often employed either to safeguard the status quo or to obscure the fundamentals of this relationship, ignite fear, cast doubt, and perhaps most importantly influence policy in a regressive direction. On the grounds of the diverse political, economic and geostra- tegic landscape in Africa, the Foundation for European Pro- gressive Studies (FEPS) and the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) present this publication as a result of a year-long research project aimed at providing an evidence-based analysis of the security, migration and development nexus in the Sahel. The Sahel was selected as an illustrative case of wider dynamics because it is characterized concomitantly by migration push factors, developmental needs and security concerns. By focus- ing on the Sahel, this publication re-conceptualizes this nexus and the related EU and US policies, while exploring opportuni- ties for transatlantic cooperation in the region. Both through its analyses of selected countries and its themat- ic chapters, we believe this publication provides key evidence based policy recommendations. We also believe that this vol- 7 ERNST STETTER AND NATHALIE TOCCI ume offers important insights that will encourage a more in- formed discussion of the challenges and opportunities that bind Africa and Europe together. Brussels – Rome, December 2017 8 THE SecuritY–MIGratiON–DevelOpment NEXus Revised: A Perspective frOM THE SAHEL INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION BERNARDO VENTURI AND Vassilis NTOusas This publication is the final product of the projectT he security– migration–development nexus revised: a perspective from the Sahel, conducted by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) of Brussels and the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) of Rome, together with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) of Washington, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This research aims at re-conceptualizing the migration–devel- opment–security nexus through the analysis of this linkage in the Sahel region, and in particular vis-à-vis three case coun- tries: Niger, Senegal and Sudan. The publication also recasts the European Union and the United States approaches to these dynamics and explores current and potential partnerships in the region. The first contribution by Luca Raineri (Research Fellow at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa) and Alessandro Rossi (independent consultant) provides a reality check of the security–migration–development nexus in the Sahel. The re- searchers provide a frame for a coherent, more evidence-based and less fear-based policy-making, along with local co-owner- ship in the implementation of policies. The first case study, Niger, is analysed by Mahamadou Danda (École Nationale d’Administration et de Magistrature – ENAM). A vulnerable country, Niger’s situation has been aggravated by the destabilization of Libya in 2011 and by terrorist raids on its borders with Mali and Nigeria. The massive flow of Nigerien migrants and of migrants in transit is triggered by social and economic factors. Irregular migration such as it is experienced in Niger has both a positive and a negative impact in terms of 9 BERNARDO VENTURI AND VASSILIS NTOUSAS development and security. Danda discusses how to deal with the root causes of forced relocation and irregular migration by boosting economic opportunities, professional training, equal- ity of opportunity and security. The case of Senegal is analysed by Souleymane Sagna (in- dependent consultant) in chapter three. The author shows a strong link between migration and development in light of the huge financial revenues that it generates, and security as re- flected in the stories of migrants who challenged smugglers and human traffickers on their route to Europe, as well as in the terror attacks that stroke European and West Africa states performed by religious extremists from external countries, us- ing the routes of migrants. The last case study, Sudan, by Bashair Ahmed (Executive Di- rector of Shabaka Social Enterprise, and Doctoral Researcher at the University of Sussex) presents a different reality because Sudan is a source, transit and destination country for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Over the last few years, Euro- pean countries have become a preferred destination for a small but growing