Avant la Lettre? The EU’s Comprehensive Approach to crises in the Sahel

The comprehensive approach CA is the ideal yet difficult to achieve because of the number of actors and interests.

EU is probably best suited in terms of crisis management since its interests are as diverse as its members resulting in an acceptable common interest emerging. This EU suitability recognises that EU is only available as a "soft" power.

Often in crisis management scenarios the first phase involves separation of the parties....stop the shooting. In this respect "hard" power may be necessary. Hard power as such cannot be ignored in the equation because until there is a secure field then the comprehensive initiatives cannot flourish.

During the conflict phase the priorities of the population are reduced to survival and higher objectives, such as development, education, reform etc are at a distance.

Question is to what extent does the CA apply in the conflict stage?