Organized Crime in the Sahel Region and Regional International Law Mechanisms for Combating It

Abstract

The African Sahel region is considered a favorable space for the spread of all forms of organized crime, including drugs, human trafficking, smuggling, and money laundering. This is due to several factors, some of which are related to the region’s natural and geographical features, while others are connected to historical factors such as colonial intervention in Sahelian countries. Perhaps the most important factor is ethnicity, which has led to conflicts between groups and minorities, with colonialism playing a pivotal role in their persistence to this day.

The spread of organized crime in the African Sahel has prompted African and European states to seek legal means to combat these crimes. On the one hand, they have relied on treaty-based mechanisms, such as the Liptako-Gourma Charter for the establishment of the Confederation of Sahel States and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. On the other hand, they have adopted institutional mechanisms, such as the African Union through its main organ, the African Peace and Security Council, and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL). The European Union has also played a role in combating organized crime in the region by adopting a strategy to support military forces in African states.