A UN and ministerial panel meeting in Dakar has called for a coordinated regional strategy to transform food systems across the Sahel, with Mali positioning itself at the forefront of the initiative.
Held at the Dakar International Conference Center as part of the 19th African Food Systems Forum, the session brought together government officials and United Nations representatives under the theme “Government-United Nations Alliance for the Transformation of Food Systems in the Sahel.” UN Special Coordinator Abdoulaye Mar Dieye urged the creation of a regional platform to harmonize national policies, warning that fragmented approaches weaken the impact of current efforts.
Mali’s Food Security Commissioner, Redouwane Ag Mohamed Ali, presented his country’s flagship “Fafaina Jiginé – Feeding Mali and the Sub-Region” project, which aims to achieve food self-sufficiency, reduce imports, and expand agricultural exports under Mali’s 2024–2033 national development strategy.
He highlighted Mali’s vast agricultural potential, including 43 million hectares of arable land and significant water resources, while stressing that food security underpins human security.
The minister called for greater youth involvement through innovation and technology and urged stronger cooperation within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to address shared food challenges.
