World Bank Calls on G5 Sahel Countries to Diversify Economies, Scale Up Reforms

The World Bank called on the five West African countries to diversify their economies to adapt to climate change. (Reuters)

The World Bank on Monday urged five West African countries to diversify their economies to adapt to climate change, warning they are extremely vulnerable to extreme weather patterns.

A report said Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger -- all in the arid Sahel region -- are among the world’s least developed countries and therefore the most vulnerable to extreme droughts, floods and heatwaves.