Geopolitics in the Sahelian diaspora: Transnational opposition to West Africa’s Alliance of Sahel States’ politics of sovereignty

West African diasporas throughout Europe (and beyond) became important transnational political actors challenging the military regimes of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Drawing on literature on diaspora politics and transnational mobilisation, this paper demonstrates how contemporary sovereignty became increasingly contested beyond territorial borders, with oppositional diaspora activists criticising democratic backsliding, restrictions on civil liberties and the concentration of power in military institutions. Central to the paper is the case of the Alliance of Democrats of the Sahel (ADS), established in Brussels in May 2026, as an example of diaspora-led democratic opposition. A comparison between Russia and AES/Niger shows how transnational dissent against authoritarian regimes is high risk, due to extended legislation and political control beyond national borders. The analysis contributes to current debates on sovereignty and the role of diasporas in international politics, European foreign policy and geopolitics more generally.