Sahelregion

Sahelregion is a semi-arid belt that spans parts of West and Central Africa, lying between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. It covers segments of Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Senegal, and portions of Nigeria and Sudan. The climate features a short, highly seasonal rainy season and a long dry season, with high temperatures and vulnerability to drought and desertification. The population is ethnically diverse, with groups such as the Fulani, Tuareg, Songhai, and Kanuri, among others, and languages including French and Arabic alongside many local tongues. Islam is the predominant faith in most Sahelregion countries, with Christian communities present in several areas.

Economies depend mainly on subsistence agriculture, pastoralism, and cross-border trade; mining and artisanal activities contribute in some locales. Food insecurity and malnutrition are recurring concerns in parts of the region, driven by climate variability, conflict, and population growth.

Historically a corridor for trans-Saharan trade, the Sahelregion has faced recurrent droughts and, in recent decades, protracted insecurity due to insurgencies and intercommunal violence. Regional coordination is provided by bodies such as the G5 Sahel, ECOWAS, and the African Union, with support from international partners for security and development. Environmental pressures, including desertification and land degradation, threaten livelihoods and resilience, making climate adaptation a central policy priority for Sahelregion.