The Latest Breaking News from Sahel

The Fulani women living under the control of JNIM jihadists in the Sahel

What is life like for the women living in the central Sahel, in areas controlled by the jihadist JNIM group? British researchers spoke with women from the Fulani ethnic group, which is strategically targeted for recruitment to the JNIM.

Radio France Internationale · Dec 14, 2025

Kidnapping for ransom in the Sahel: analysis of 24 years of data shows a new trend

Kidnapping for ransom has a long history in the west African Sahel. In 1979, a rebel group led by Chad’s future president Hissène Habré kidnapped a French archaeologist and a German medical doctor in the north of the country. The kidnappers asked for the release of political prisoners, among other…

The Conversation · Dec 11, 2025

Benin’s failed coup: three factors behind the takeover attempt

Military elements attempted to topple Benin’s government in early December 2025. However, unlike other coups across the Sahel and west Africa since 2020, this bid triggered a military response from Benin’s neighbours.

The Conversation · Dec 9, 2025

Africa’s drone wars are growing – but they rarely deliver victory

In the last decade, armed drones have become one of the most visible symbols of modern warfare. Once the preserve of advanced militaries, armed drones are now widely available on the global arms market. Countries such as Turkey, China and Iran are producing lower-cost models and exporting them. In Sudan’s…

The Conversation · Nov 10, 2025

Mali’s economy near standstill amid JNIM fuel attacks

An ongoing fuel blockade initiated by the JNIM jihadist group in Mali has brought the landlocked Sahel nation’s economy to a near standstill. In an effort to isolate the capital, Bamako, and exert pressure on the ruling junta, the militants have intensified their attacks on fuel tankers, prompting Western governments…

Radio France Internationale · Nov 5, 2025

Why an armed group linked to al-Qaida is gaining ground in Mali

Mali’s military regime is coming under increasing pressure from Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an armed group linked to al-Qaida that now controls large swathes of territory across the Sahel region of western and north-central Africa. The group is blockading major highways in Mali and torching tanker lorries, with…

The Conversation · Oct 31, 2025

Jihadists have blockaded Mali’s capital. What’s at stake

A coalition of jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaida have laid siege to landlocked Mali’s capital. For over a month, they have attacked convoys supplying Bamako with fuel, putting considerable pressure on the military junta that has been ruling the country for five years.

The Conversation · Oct 31, 2025

In The Sahel, No Reprieve Under Jihadist Blockade

Islamist militants still severely impact large swathes of Burkina Faso and Mali, imposing roadblocks, launching attacks and cutting off supply lines as they expand their decade-long presence, according to residents' testimonies.

International Business Times · Oct 20, 2025

Should Boko Haram fighters be given a second chance in society? We asked 2,000 young Nigerians

Across the world, the question of how to deal with former fighters remains urgent. From Nigeria and Iraq to Syria and the Sahel, governments are wrestling with how to bring people who once fought for violent groups back into society. Reintegrating ex-fighters – after appropriate punishment – is unavoidable. This…

The Conversation · Oct 19, 2025

Sahel-based jihadists are extending their reach. Can a fractured region push back?

Counterinsurgency approaches have splintered in west Africa at the same time as terror threats have shifted southward

The Guardian - UK · Oct 18, 2025