BRUSSELS (ChatnewsTV) — The European Union (EU) has appointed João Cravinho as its new Special Representative (EUSR) for the Sahel region, tasked with supporting efforts toward peace, security, and sustainable development across the area.
Cravinho will take up his role on December 1, 2024, with an initial mandate of 21 months. The Sahel, which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, has faced increasing instability due to armed conflict, terrorism, and socio-political challenges. As EUSR, Cravinho will contribute to both regional and international initiatives aimed at stabilizing the region and will engage with neighboring areas such as the Lake Chad Basin, the Maghreb, and the Gulf of Guinea.
The appointment follows extensive discussions within the European Council and Foreign Affairs Councils, which laid the groundwork for a renewed EU approach to the Sahel under the EU Integrated Strategy. Cravinho’s efforts will align with these goals to promote long-term stability and development.
“I am honored to take on this important role and contribute to the EU’s commitment to peace and development in the Sahel,” Cravinho said.
“I look forward to working closely with regional partners and international stakeholders to address the complex challenges facing this vital region.”
Cravinho brings extensive experience to the position, having served as Portugal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2024. His career also includes roles as Minister of National Defence, EU Ambassador to Brazil and India, and President of the Portuguese Cooperation Institute. He will succeed Emanuela Claudia Del Re, who served from June 2021.
EU Special Representatives play a key role in advancing the EU’s foreign policy, promoting stability, and supporting peace-building efforts. Currently, eleven such representatives work under the guidance of Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
