Ndayishimiye will lead "the African Union's renewed high-level diplomatic support and collaborative initiatives to address the persistent humanitarian and security challenges in the Sahel," the AU said in a statement quoted by the Spanish news agency Efe.
His appointment aims to boost the AU's efforts to "definitely silence the guns and promote peace, security, stability, and political dialogue in the Sahel region," it added.
The new special envoy's objectives, the statement adds, include "intensifying collaboration with government authorities, opinion leaders, regional actors and organizations, civil society, and all relevant stakeholders to foster dialogue, generate consensus, and promote comprehensive strategies that lead to lasting peace and stability" in this African region that stretches from coast to coast, from Mauritania to Sudan.
Ndayishimiye's appointment comes as the Sahel faces a multifaceted and complex crisis, including extremist violence, political unrest, forced displacement caused by climate change, and the erosion of public trust in national governments and international peace initiatives.
In the region, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, once praised for their democratic progress, have suffered military coups since 2020, generating growing resentment toward the intervention of Western countries and foreign humanitarian non-governmental organizations, EFE also notes.
