Great power competition in the Central Sahel and the multipolar order

The Central Sahel is a highly volatile arena for multipolar competition between the US, China, and Russia. While traditional narratives view the region as a passive victim, this study examines how contemporary foreign relations are actively managed by local political structures. Through qualitative document analysis of US aid, Chinese infrastructure investment, and Russian security apparatuses, results show foreign influences are more nuanced than conventional dependency models. Transitional military regimes actively leverage geopolitical frictions to bypass Western conditionalities, secure non-normative capital, and ensure regime survival. However, this strategic shift in external sponsors perpetuates structural dependency and exacerbates instability. The study concludes these countries must prioritize consolidating state capacities, ensuring regional integration, and strategically engaging middle powers to establish favorable cooperation conditions.