By Emma Black

President Julius Maada Bio has called for deeper, more meaningful cooperation between Europe and West Africa to confront the growing insecurity in the Sahel, cautioning that global geopolitical rivalries must not overshadow the region’s urgent needs.

The Sierra Leonean leader made the call while speaking at a high-level panel titled “Point of Return: Reengaging with the Sahel” during the Munich Security Conference 2026. Addressing global policymakers and security experts, President Bio stressed that effective engagement with the Sahel must move beyond rhetoric and be grounded in practical collaboration.

Speaking in his capacity as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Bio highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between ECOWAS and Sahelian countries. He emphasized that addressing insecurity in the region requires a unified approach that prioritizes the protection of civilians, promotes economic opportunity, and invests in young people as agents of stability and development.

President Bio also warned that fragmented international responses and shifting geopolitical interests risk undermining progress in the Sahel, noting that sustained peace can only be achieved through coordinated regional and international action.

The panel brought together influential voices, including João Gomes Cravinho, the European Union Special Representative for the Sahel at the European External Action Service. Together, participants underscored the need for renewed global commitment to addressing the security, governance, and development challenges facing the Sahel.

President Bio’s participation at the conference reaffirmed his determination to keep the Sahel high on the international agenda and to mobilize global partners toward lasting solutions for the region.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 23rd February 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)