The Malian Transitional Authorities have not fulfilled their commitment to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), supported by the African Union, to hold presidential and parliamentary elections by 27 February 2022. In late 2021, the Malian side began to obstruct countries that participated in the Takuba Task Force of Operation Barkhane. The so-called Wagner Group, the Russian paramilitary unit, also began operating in the country in December 2021. On 16 February 2022, the untenable situation resulted in the countries participating in the Task Force Takuba jointly deciding to withdraw their military assets. In January 2022, a further military coup took place in Burkina Faso. 

Minister Lipavský stressed that in the face of these challenges and despite Russian aggression against Ukraine, Czechia will continue playing an active role in the Coalition for the Sahel. Stabilization of the Sahel and preventing the spread of instability to neighbouring countries in the Gulf of Guinea is one of the Czech priorities. This has resulted in the Coalition endorsing a new roadmap of activities reflecting political and security changes in the wider Sahel region by mid-2022.