Ankara: Trkiye has an important and positive role to play in Africa's Sahel, and it can be an important part of international solutions, according to the EU special envoy for the region. Joao Gomes Cravinho, the envoy, emphasized the strategic importance of Trkiye in fostering stability in the Sahel, a region beset by instability and jihadist insurgency.

According to Anadolu Agency, Cravinho highlighted that the Sahel region, which borders the Sahara Desert, faces significant challenges including governance issues and drug trafficking, which cannot be tackled by a single nation. The former Portuguese foreign minister called for an alliance of international support to address these challenges.

Cravinho expressed the EU's interest in collaborating with Trkiye and the countries of the Sahel to form a broad international coalition aimed at supporting the region. He underscored that the stability of the Sahel is crucial not only for Africa but also for Europe. During his recent visit to Mali, he met with people and officials, including the Turkish ambassador, and noted Trkiye's potential to play a significant role in regional solutions.

He acknowledged the difficulty in maintaining global focus on the Sahel amidst other pressing global issues like the war in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza, and the conflict in Sudan. These issues, he said, create a challenging environment for international cooperation on the Sahel.

Cravinho stressed the importance of not neglecting the Sahel, as its instability has widespread implications for Europe and other parts of Africa.