Belgium and Luxembourg are preparing to suspend all bilateral cooperation with the three Sahelian nations of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, due to mounting insecurity and escalating diplomatic tensions, sources have revealed.
The move will directly affect development projects managed through Enabel (Belgium’s international development agency), BIO (Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries), and LuxDev (Luxembourg’s development cooperation agency), all of which have played a vital role in supporting the region’s development efforts.
According to informed sources, Belgium and Luxembourg have been major backers of various socio-economic programs in the three countries. In 2024 alone, LuxDev contributed €23.7 million to Mali and Burkina Faso.
Between 2017 and 2022, annual development investments in Niger consistently exceeded €20 million.
In Mali, LuxDev’s contributions focused on rural development and food security, especially through training programs targeted at women and youth and the financing of productive community projects. In Burkina Faso, the agency funded sustainable forest resource management and vocational and technical education. It also supported regional efforts, such as the extension of Luxembourg’s interim strategy to maintain ongoing engagement in the area.
Unofficial reports indicate that the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso — currently owe an estimated €70 million in outstanding debts to BIO.
“Belgium and Luxembourg are on the verge of suspending their bilateral cooperation with the Alliance of Sahel States — Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso — in light of growing insecurity and diplomatic strains,” one source said. “This decision, expected to be formalized soon, signals a strategic shift with serious consequences for key sectors such as agriculture, education, and private investment.”
Enabel, BIO, and LuxDev have reportedly already begun a quiet withdrawal process involving both financial and logistical operations.
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