What Is the Sahel?

The Sahel is a semi-arid belt stretching across Africa from the Atlantic coast in the west to the Red Sea in the east, passing through countries including Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Sudan. For the past decade, a constellation of armed groups, coups, and humanitarian emergencies has made it one of the world's most complex security challenges.

The Rise of Jihadist Violence

The instability that engulfed Libya after the 2011 NATO intervention had cascading effects across the region, flooding neighboring countries with weapons and armed fighters. Groups affiliated with al-Qaeda (notably Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM) and the Islamic State Sahel Province have exploited weak governance, ethnic tensions, and economic grievances to expand their influence.

Attacks on civilians, military forces, and aid workers have surged dramatically, displacing millions and effectively severing state control from large swaths of territory in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

A Wave of Military Coups

Between 2020 and 2023, the Sahel experienced an extraordinary sequence of military coups:

  • Mali: Coups in August 2020 and May 2021
  • Guinea: September 2021
  • Burkina Faso: January and September 2022
  • Niger: July 2023
  • Gabon: August 2023

In each case, military juntas justified their seizure of power partly by pointing to failed counterterrorism efforts under civilian governments. Public sentiment in some countries showed support for the coups, reflecting deep frustration with political elites and foreign military presence.

Shifting Alliances: France Out, Russia In?

A defining feature of recent Sahelian politics has been the expulsion of French military forces from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — countries where France had long maintained counterterrorism operations. These juntas have pivoted toward Russia, with the Wagner Group (now rebranded under Russian military structures) reported to be active in the region.

The departure of Western forces and the arrival of Russian personnel have raised serious questions about the direction of security policy and the accountability of military operations involving civilian populations.

The Humanitarian Toll

The security collapse has generated one of the world's fastest-growing displacement crises. Millions of people have been internally displaced across the region. Farmers cannot cultivate land in conflict zones, worsening food insecurity in an area already severely affected by drought and climate variability. Access for humanitarian organizations has become increasingly restricted.

What Comes Next?

The Sahel's challenges are deeply interconnected: insecurity feeds displacement, which worsens poverty, which creates fertile ground for recruitment by armed groups. There are no quick solutions. Long-term stabilization will require not only security responses but investment in governance, economic development, and climate resilience. Whether regional bodies like ECOWAS and international partners can adapt their approaches to match the rapidly shifting political landscape remains the central question.