ABSTRACT
As Mali emerged from a series of conflicts and terrorist occupation, the European Union’s (EU) intervention epitomised the dilemmas of an external actor in post-conflict management. Although the situation on the ground required a comprehensive response, the EU opted for narrowly focused peacebuilding instruments. The EU deployed a military operation and a civilian mission to train and reform the Malian security forces. With these actions, the EU seeks to contribute to the restoration of Mali’s stability and peace. At the same time, these instruments serve the EU’s own interests. Both missions expanded into the migration and border control management tasks with the aim of enhancing European security. This shift highlights the extent to which the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is influenced not only by international norms but also by the EU’s autonomous foreign policy, which allows the EU to redirect its instruments to serve its own interests. This chapter explores how the CSDP missions in Mali are shaped by these two dimensions. It traces the dynamics of the EU’s peacebuilding approach in Mali through an analysis of the context of the crisis, the EU’s reaction to the conflict, the EU missions and the EU Sahel Strategy.
