Sahel.
ecoclimatic and biogeographic transition zone in Africa
- Reports this week
- 5
- Active events
- 5
- Connections
- 145
What's happening
Active this week
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Both Niger and Burkina Faso are currently facing threats from militant groups operating in the broader Sahel region.Well supported13 reports5 developments inside
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Niger and Burkina Faso pledged stronger cooperation against terrorism in the Sahel region.Some support4 reports
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UN addresses conflict in the Sahel and focuses on security in West Africa, while Birame Diop receives a UN delegation in Abuja.Some support1 report
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Oxfam implemented adaptation strategies and works to reduce inequality and poverty in the Sahel and Africa.Some support1 report1 development inside
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The region including Sahel, Chad, and Nigeria is facing a humanitarian crisis due to the disproportionate impacts of climate change.Some support2 reports3 developments inside
Earlier this month
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Ghana and Togo strengthened cross-border cooperation through the SOCO Project, benefiting Oti and Savannah regions.Some support1 report
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Weak rainy season and harvest delays are driving up millet prices in Abéché, Chad.Some support1 report
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The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum convened in Johannesburg, supported by UN Women and OSF, to discuss economic stability and WPS policy.Some support1 report
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El Niño heat is causing additional deaths in Niger, Chad, and Nigeria across the Sahel region.Well supported5 reports
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Thabo Mbeki spoke in Pretoria about military coups and political issues in the Sahel, citing Mali.Some support1 report
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A kidnapping occurred in the Niger region, and the Libyan side is reportedly involved in potential ransom payments.Some support12 reports1 development inside
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HRW reports atrocities in central Mali, while JNIM fighters utilize Starlink for operations amid Russian military presence.Some support3 reports
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Ghana President addressed a summit in London, focusing on Sahel security and seeking UN financial resolutions.Some support1 report
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Islamic State carried out retaliatory killings against MSA following attacks in the Sahel region.Some support1 report
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Theorists predict major changes in warfare, noting how smaller states leverage technology to maximize capabilities.Some support2 reports
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Senator Cyrus addressed officials from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, identifying Sahel instability as a major regional threat.Some support2 reports
-
Nigeria and Kenya held a strategic exchange on counter-terrorism and lessons learned from the Sahel region.Some support1 report
-
Jennifer Clarke advocates for inclusive research in Africa during a symposium focused on drought tolerance in the Sahel region.Some support1 report
-
A Nigerian delegation attended the African Union summit in Luanda, Angola, to discuss the ongoing issues related to Sahel instability and its impact on Nigeria's borders.Some support1 report1 development inside
-
Nigeria addresses threats in the Sahel region, with Nuhu Ribadu working with the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre.Some support3 reports
-
IFDC is conducting agricultural operations in Benin, collaborating with the government to address issues in the Sahel.Some support2 reports
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Climate change is causing Sahara expansion, reducing agricultural productivity, and forcing internal migration in the Sahel.Some support2 reports2 developments inside
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Climate stress impacts farming and herding in the semi-arid Sahel belt region.Some support2 reports
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Terrorist groups coordinated operations across Maghreb and Sahel.Some support8 reports1 development inside
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Ribadu and the African Union Centre warned of terrorist exploitation spanning West Africa and the Sahel.Some support5 reports
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Benin sought regional cooperation with AES states, attended by a Nigerien delegation, amid Sahel instability.Some support4 reports4 developments inside
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A 2016 joint study was conducted on the African economic agenda, while Yvette Sylla considered running in Madagascar elections.Some support1 report
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Richard Taylor investigates climate and groundwater in the Sahel as Lake Chad shows signs of recovery.Some support2 reports
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Conflict is normalizing across Africa, with local conflicts increasingly becoming internationalized.Some support2 reports3 developments inside
-
Bellingcat researchers conducted conflict monitoring training focused on Sudan and the Sahel region.Some support1 report
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Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, called for an overhaul of AUPSA to tackle terrorism.Some support1 report
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The South African Communist Party (SACP) extended solidarity to Cuba, Western Sahara, Venezuela, Mandatory Palestine, Sahel, and Iran.Some support1 report
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Increased violent extremism and conflict impact women and girls in the Sahel and Syria.Some support2 reports1 development inside
One to three months ago
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ISIS-K is exploiting instability in various regions, establishing operational bases, and warning about global terrorism threats involving the UN Security Council.Some support2 reports1 development inside
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Concurrent geopolitical updates include the situation in North Kivu of the DRC, the hardening of the Sahel bloc alongside Ghana's dismantling of the death penalty, and a ceasefire deal affecting Congo announced from Doha.Some support1 report1 development inside
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Kidal is identified as a strategic city within the Sahel region.Some support1 report
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The ongoing crisis in the Sahel region is leading to an influx of weapons.Some support1 report1 development inside
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The government calls for MNJTF repositioning as security dynamics change in the Sahel region.Some support2 reports
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Mauritania, West Africa, and Sahel are engaged in cooperation regarding regional security and development.Well supported6 reports3 developments inside
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Niger serves as the main sea outlet and transit corridor for landlocked Sahelian countries.Some support1 report1 development inside
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The capital city of Niger, Niamey, was mentioned on 2026-06-01.Well supported69 reports1 development inside
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The Alliance of Sahel States is seeking geopolitical partners and forming a collective defense architecture to combat militant expansion.Some support1 report1 development inside
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Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) projects are currently underway in the Niger and Sahel region.Some support1 report
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A partnership promotes sustainable development and food security in the Sahel, supporting IFDC's Soil Values program.Some support1 report2 developments inside
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Kano State, located in Nigeria, is situated in the shadow of the Sahel region.Some support1 report1 development inside
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The Sahel region faces increasing threats due to extreme heat, as discussed by expert Michael Greenstone.Some support19 reports
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Sahel instability contributes to Nigerian terrorism.Some support7 reports2 developments inside
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A global body addressed regional crises in Somalia, the Sahel, and Afghanistan, noting shared climate and conflict risks.Some support1 report
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Julius Maada Bio discusses the interconnected issues of Sahel terrorism, African resource value, and the Sudan conflict.Some support1 report
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Agricultural data in the Sahel is now being classified as national security data.Some support2 reports
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UAE's alleged provocative actions in the Sahel, including support for Kabyle autonomy, are linked to a developing Morocco-Israel axis.Some support1 report1 development inside
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The African Union launched an initiative to address the environmental crisis in the Sahel, recognizing the semi-arid nature of the continent.Some support2 reports4 developments inside
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Morocco, North Africa, and the Sahel are forming a transit hub for the drug trade.Some support2 reports1 development inside
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The secessionist claims of Biafra are challenging Nigeria's unity, coinciding with the assertion that the Sahel region is geographically part of Nigeria.Some support1 report
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Atmospheric scientist Tianle Yuan uses NASA's Modis data to study how El Niño affects dust over the Sahel region.Some support2 reports
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The Sahel region faces climate challenges impacting agriculture, while Lee White's history in Gabon and Uganda is noted.Some support1 report
-
The African Union held a summit in Addis Ababa, addressing peace and security across several African regions including the Sahel, Libya, Burundi, and Somalia.Well supported4 reports2 developments inside
-
Global jihadism assessments reveal Al-Qaeda affiliates expanding into the Sahel and posing security threats across the Indian Subcontinent, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.Some support2 reports
-
JNIM militants are blocking fuel supply to the capital of Burkina Faso amid heightened activity in the Liptako-Gourma borderlands.Some support1 report
-
Dredging and terminal investment is rerouting trade routes across the Sahel region.Some support1 report
No events began in the chosen period. Widen it, or reset.
What's reaching Sahel
Events traced to Sahel, step by step, newest firstExplainers that pass through Sahel
Sahel is a step on the way to someone else- France's renewed military aid to Chad could challenge Sahel security blocFrance's military aid to Chad may challenge the Alliance of Sahel States' regional security rolePossible
- France's aid to Chad could stabilize regional security for NigerFrance's stabilization efforts in Chad may improve regional security for NigerPossible
Around Sahel this week
News at the entities that move Sahel most-
El Nino OperationalHeavy rain and flooding caused by climate patterns led to a Learjet crash in Florida.Moves Sahel
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United Nations OperationalTurkey's Erdogan used the UN General Assembly to stress the importance of Turkish Cypriots' rights in Cyprus.Moves Sahel
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United Arab Emirates OperationalOpenAI is in talks with BlackRock and UAE investment funds, while AI spending concerns are impacting technology stocks, including Tesla.Moves Sahel
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El Niño OperationalStorms caused power outages on Vancouver Island, with El Niño potentially amplifying weather extremes.Moves Sahel
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Earth StructuralCanon collaborated with a UK conservation organization to deploy tools aimed at saving Earth's coral reefs.Moves Sahel
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Morocco OperationalOGX is incorporating Argan Oil sourced from Morocco into its haircare product line.Moves Sahel
Connections
The 40 strongest of 145, analyzed from the reporting. The bars show how strongly a change on one side reaches the other.-
El Nino Operational
El Nino drives extreme weather patterns, including drought and heat, which severely impact the Sahel region.
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United Nations Operational
The UN actively monitors, reports on, and provides strategic support regarding the geopolitical instability and terrorism in the Sahel region.
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West Africa Structural
Sahel is a sub-region of West Africa, and its instability and extremism actively impact the broader region's cohesion and stability.
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African Union Operational
The African Union actively engages in security, environmental, and development initiatives within the Sahel region.
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Morocco Operational
Morocco actively engages in stability efforts in the Sahel while simultaneously facing direct security threats and instability originating from the region.
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Nigeria Operational
Nigeria and the Sahel share an operational relationship defined by cross-border security threats, terrorism, and regional instability, necessitating cooperation.
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United Arab Emirates Operational
The UAE actively engages in the Sahel region through financial intervention, including ransom payments, and by expanding diplomatic ties with local governments.
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ISIS Operational
ISIS operates within the Sahel region, exploiting its geopolitical instability and fragile security environments.
Show all 40 connections
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Libya Operational
Libya actively engages in security operations, brokering, and the flow of instability and weapons into the Sahel region.
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Ghana Operational
Ghana's security policy and regional efforts are actively shaped by instability and extremist threats originating from the Sahel region.
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El Niño Operational
El Niño conditions are observed to influence climate hazards, including drought, heat, and dust, over the Sahel region.
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Syria Operational
The conflicts in both the Sahel and Syria are shown to be in competition, mutually driving regional displacement and violence.
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Earth Structural
The Earth's global climate system drives large-scale environmental changes that directly impact the stability and challenges of the Sahel region.
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Islamic State Operational
The Islamic State conducts active military operations and insurgency within the Sahel region.
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Benin Operational
Jihadist violence and security crises originating in the Sahel spill over into Benin, prompting regional cooperation and aid reception.
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Mauritania Operational
Mauritania is situated within the Sahel and shares common security, environmental, and developmental challenges, leading to strategic partnership.
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Liberia Operational
Instability and insecurity in the Sahel drives migration and threatens regional stability in Liberia.
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Algeria Operational
Algeria actively engages in security and diplomatic efforts within the Sahel region, prioritizing stability despite strained relations.
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Gao Operational
Gao is involved in armed groups that are actively competing for influence and territories within the Sahel region.
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Nigerian Army Operational
The Nigerian Army actively monitors and addresses security threats and instability within the Sahel region.
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Somalia Operational
Somalia and the Sahel are coupled through shared militant threats, climate change impacts, and resulting instability that undermines food security.
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Cameroon Operational
Cameroon functions as a major security partner within the Sahel region.
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Donald Trump Operational
Donald Trump's administration has actively prioritized Sahel resource exploitation and diplomatic issues, such as securing pilot releases.
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Sultan of Sokoto Operational
The Sultan of Sokoto actively promotes peace and stability within the Sahel region.
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Economic Community of West African States Operational
Sahel instability creates security challenges that ECOWAS must address and manage.
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Abu Dhabi Operational
Abu Dhabi's activities are documented as influencing instability in the Sahel, which is also a subject of diplomatic discussion.
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Fort Meade Operational
Fort Meade processes agricultural data from the Sahel, classifying it as national security information.
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu Operational
Sahel problems contribute to insecurity in Nigeria, influencing the geopolitical context of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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Sudan Shared context
Sudan is geographically situated along a conflict belt that poses a spillover threat into the Sahel region.
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Lake Chad Operational
Sahel's security dynamics actively affect the status and recovery of Lake Chad.
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State Security Service Operational
The State Security Service allegedly coordinated with groups operating within the Sahel region.
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Babagana Umara Zulum Structural
A holds a leadership role whose mandate and actions are defined by the geopolitical challenges of the Sahel region.
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Lomé Operational
Lomé's port infrastructure is utilized to reroute trade flows for the Sahel region.
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CSW Mentioned together
CSW's global commitments are challenged by regional instability and conflict within the Sahel region.
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Great Plains Operational
The two regions are currently engaged in a competitive dynamic driven by shared environmental pressures, specifically drought conditions.
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António Guterres Mentioned together
Guterres, in his capacity as UN Secretary-General, has acknowledged the severe humanitarian and security challenges facing the Sahel region.
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Colombia Operational
Colombia is conducting mangrove restoration efforts within the Sahel region.
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Kenya Operational
Kenya exchanges lessons from the Sahel region, which is impacted by civil wars and coups.
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Yemen Mentioned together
Both Sahel and Yemen are listed as areas requiring UNHCR humanitarian response.
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Food and Agriculture Organization Mentioned together
The Food and Agriculture Organization reports on food insecurity conditions within the Sahel region.
History
Events by the month they beganNovember 2026
2 eventsOctober 2026
20 events- Ghana and Togo strengthened cross-border cooperation through the SOCO Project, benefiting Oti and Savannah regions.
- Weak rainy season and harvest delays are driving up millet prices in Abéché, Chad.
- The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum convened in Johannesburg, supported by UN Women and OSF, to discuss economic stability and WPS policy.
- Thabo Mbeki spoke in Pretoria about military coups and political issues in the Sahel, citing Mali.
- HRW reports atrocities in central Mali, while JNIM fighters utilize Starlink for operations amid Russian military presence.
- Ghana President addressed a summit in London, focusing on Sahel security and seeking UN financial resolutions.
- Islamic State carried out retaliatory killings against MSA following attacks in the Sahel region.
- Theorists predict major changes in warfare, noting how smaller states leverage technology to maximize capabilities.
- Senator Cyrus addressed officials from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, identifying Sahel instability as a major regional threat.
- Nigeria and Kenya held a strategic exchange on counter-terrorism and lessons learned from the Sahel region.
- Jennifer Clarke advocates for inclusive research in Africa during a symposium focused on drought tolerance in the Sahel region.
- Nigeria addresses threats in the Sahel region, with Nuhu Ribadu working with the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre.
- Climate stress impacts farming and herding in the semi-arid Sahel belt region.
- Ribadu and the African Union Centre warned of terrorist exploitation spanning West Africa and the Sahel.
- A 2016 joint study was conducted on the African economic agenda, while Yvette Sylla considered running in Madagascar elections.
- Bellingcat researchers conducted conflict monitoring training focused on Sudan and the Sahel region.
- Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, called for an overhaul of AUPSA to tackle terrorism.
- The South African Communist Party (SACP) extended solidarity to Cuba, Western Sahara, Venezuela, Mandatory Palestine, Sahel, and Iran.
- Kidal is identified as a strategic city within the Sahel region.
- The government calls for MNJTF repositioning as security dynamics change in the Sahel region.
September 2026
17 events- El Niño heat is causing additional deaths in Niger, Chad, and Nigeria across the Sahel region.
- IFDC is conducting agricultural operations in Benin, collaborating with the government to address issues in the Sahel.
- Climate change is causing Sahara expansion, reducing agricultural productivity, and forcing internal migration in the Sahel.
- ISIS-K is exploiting instability in various regions, establishing operational bases, and warning about global terrorism threats involving the UN Security Council.
- The Alliance of Sahel States is seeking geopolitical partners and forming a collective defense architecture to combat militant expansion.
- Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) projects are currently underway in the Niger and Sahel region.
- The Sahel region faces increasing threats due to extreme heat, as discussed by expert Michael Greenstone.
- A global body addressed regional crises in Somalia, the Sahel, and Afghanistan, noting shared climate and conflict risks.
- Julius Maada Bio discusses the interconnected issues of Sahel terrorism, African resource value, and the Sudan conflict.
- Agricultural data in the Sahel is now being classified as national security data.
- UAE's alleged provocative actions in the Sahel, including support for Kabyle autonomy, are linked to a developing Morocco-Israel axis.
- The secessionist claims of Biafra are challenging Nigeria's unity, coinciding with the assertion that the Sahel region is geographically part of Nigeria.
- Atmospheric scientist Tianle Yuan uses NASA's Modis data to study how El Niño affects dust over the Sahel region.
- The Sahel region faces climate challenges impacting agriculture, while Lee White's history in Gabon and Uganda is noted.
- Global jihadism assessments reveal Al-Qaeda affiliates expanding into the Sahel and posing security threats across the Indian Subcontinent, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
- JNIM militants are blocking fuel supply to the capital of Burkina Faso amid heightened activity in the Liptako-Gourma borderlands.
- Dredging and terminal investment is rerouting trade routes across the Sahel region.
Show 3 earlier months
August 2026
4 events- A kidnapping occurred in the Niger region, and the Libyan side is reportedly involved in potential ransom payments.
- A Nigerian delegation attended the African Union summit in Luanda, Angola, to discuss the ongoing issues related to Sahel instability and its impact on Nigeria's borders.
- Richard Taylor investigates climate and groundwater in the Sahel as Lake Chad shows signs of recovery.
- The African Union held a summit in Addis Ababa, addressing peace and security across several African regions including the Sahel, Libya, Burundi, and Somalia.
July 2026
8 events- Terrorist groups coordinated operations across Maghreb and Sahel.
- Concurrent geopolitical updates include the situation in North Kivu of the DRC, the hardening of the Sahel bloc alongside Ghana's dismantling of the death penalty, and a ceasefire deal affecting Congo announced from Doha.
- The ongoing crisis in the Sahel region is leading to an influx of weapons.
- Niger serves as the main sea outlet and transit corridor for landlocked Sahelian countries.
- A partnership promotes sustainable development and food security in the Sahel, supporting IFDC's Soil Values program.
- Kano State, located in Nigeria, is situated in the shadow of the Sahel region.
- Sahel instability contributes to Nigerian terrorism.
- The African Union launched an initiative to address the environmental crisis in the Sahel, recognizing the semi-arid nature of the continent.
June 2026
9 events- Both Niger and Burkina Faso are currently facing threats from militant groups operating in the broader Sahel region.
- Oxfam implemented adaptation strategies and works to reduce inequality and poverty in the Sahel and Africa.
- The region including Sahel, Chad, and Nigeria is facing a humanitarian crisis due to the disproportionate impacts of climate change.
- Benin sought regional cooperation with AES states, attended by a Nigerien delegation, amid Sahel instability.
- Conflict is normalizing across Africa, with local conflicts increasingly becoming internationalized.
- Increased violent extremism and conflict impact women and girls in the Sahel and Syria.
- Mauritania, West Africa, and Sahel are engaged in cooperation regarding regional security and development.
- The capital city of Niger, Niamey, was mentioned on 2026-06-01.
- Morocco, North Africa, and the Sahel are forming a transit hub for the drug trade.