The article announces that Birgitte Nygaard Markussen has been appointed as the new European Union Special Representative for the Sahel region, starting her role on September 1, 2026. She will serve for one year, until August 31, 2027, taking over from João Cravinho. Markussen's job will involve helping to implement the EU's plans for the Sahel, which includes countries like Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. Her main goals are to promote peace, security, stability, and development in the region. She will also lead discussions with local governments and other international partners to tackle various challenges, such as security issues and humanitarian needs. Markussen is a Danish diplomat with significant experience in African affairs and has held various important positions within the EU and Denmark’s foreign ministry. She has previously served as Denmark's Ambassador to several countries in Africa and has worked closely on issues related to the Sahel region. The article also explains the role of EU Special Representatives, who help promote EU policies and support stability and rule of law in specific regions. There are currently eleven such representatives working under the EU's foreign affairs chief.
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