• In Mali, special envoys for the Sahel from the BENELUX countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) and Germany met with Mali’s Foreign Minister on Tuesday, April 8. According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the discussions focused on security issues, the political transition, economic cooperation, and the fight against illegal migration.
• In Burkina Faso, ministers of Industry and Trade from the member states of the Sahel States Confederation held their second meeting to discuss the creation of a centralized purchasing center for strategic goods and the implementation of commitments made by Heads of State in the fields of trade and industry.
• In Niger, union rights are now officially banned for members of the defense and security forces. The measure, part of the National Reform Charter signed into law on March 26, 2025, has now entered into force.