alSahel

alSahel, commonly referred to as the Sahel, is a geographic and ecological belt of Africa that forms the transition zone between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. It stretches roughly across the width of the continent from the Atlantic coast in the west to the Red Sea in the east, covering about 5,000 kilometers. The region encompasses parts of West, Central, and East Africa, including countries such as Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, and Sudan.

The Sahel is characterized by a semi-arid climate with a brief, highly seasonal wet period and a long dry season. Rainfall is variable and generally declines toward the north, ranging from roughly 200 to 600 millimeters annually in the southern Sahel. The area is prone to drought and can experience rapid desertification, trends that are intensified by climate change and land-use pressures.

Population growth, urbanization, and diverse livelihoods shape the social and economic landscape. Many communities depend on rain-fed agriculture and pastoralism, with livelihoods vulnerable to rainfall variability. The region faces security challenges from militant groups and insurgencies in several states, prompting regional and international stabilization efforts such as multi-state security initiatives and peacekeeping missions.

Historically, the Sahel has been a corridor for trans-Saharan trade and the site of various empires and kingdoms. In the colonial era it was divided among European powers and later became part of independent states. Culturally diverse, the Sahel includes numerous languages and religions, with Islam playing a prominent role in many communities.