Since 2012, the Sahel has been at the center of a regional conflict characterized by the failure of international interventions and “stabilization” practices. Largely driven by imaginaries of state reconstruction and counterterrorism, these policies have ultimately accompanied local dynamics of violence and political polarization. The rise of authoritarianism, illustrated by recent coups d’état, reflects a rejection of interventionist models perceived as externally imposed and redefines power relations at the regional level. In this context, West African actors play a central role in reinterpreting governance practices but, more importantly, in fostering new alliances and intensifying competition among interventionist powers. This policy brief offers a sociological and critical analysis of the limitations of international strategies, highlighting the differentiated effects of interventions on local social and political structures. Finally, it explores the prospect of a renewed international engagement that is more attuned to local dynamics and ongoing sociopolitical transformations.