The Latest Breaking News from Sahel

Scramble for the Sahel – why France, Russia, China and the United States are interested in the region

The Sahel, a region 3,860km wide located south of the Sahara Desert and stretching east-west across the African continent, has been a focus of attention around the world recently.

The Conversation · Jan 8, 2024

Au revoir, Sahel: Did 2023 crush France’s influence in Africa?

France’s hold on its African allies significantly shrunk in 2023. Here’s a timeline of how that unfolded.

Al Jazeera · Dec 31, 2023

The zaï technique: how farmers in the Sahel grow crops with little to no water

Hubert Reeves once wrote that “on the cosmic scale, liquid water is rarer than gold”. And what is true for the universe is even truer in the Sahel, the name given to the vast, arid belt that skirts the Sahara and stretches across Africa from east to west. Since 3,000…

The Conversation · Dec 27, 2023

Niger says all French troops will have left by 22 December

The ongoing withdrawal of French troops participating in an anti-jihadist mission in Niger will be complete by 22 December, the Sahel country's army said Tuesday.

Radio France Internationale · Dec 13, 2023

COP28 summit heads into overtime without fossil fuel deal

In tonight’s edition: the COP28 summit enters the final hours of climate negotiations. Meanwhile, researchers in the Sahel region are working on how to reduce emissions from livestock farming. Also, there's another dire warning from the World Food Programme, as food insecurity continues to worsen in West and Central Africa,…

France 24 · Dec 12, 2023

W.Africa Leaders Meet As Region Struggles With Coups

West African leaders meet on Sunday for talks with the region in deepening crisis, after four countries fell under military rule and with risks growing from Sahel jihadist conflicts.

International Business Times · Dec 10, 2023

Ghana’s media treats terrorism as a threat from outside – it overlooks violence at home

In 2022, 43% of all global terrorism deaths occurred in the Sahel – the region south of the Sahara Desert and stretching east-west across the African continent. West Africa had recorded 1,800 terrorism attacks as of June 2023, resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths.

The Conversation · Dec 6, 2023

Niger junta scraps military agreements with EU, discusses ties with Russia

The junta in Niger has scrapped two key security agreements with the European Union that were intended to help fight violence in the Sahel region, as the country's army leaders discuss military cooperation with Russian officials.

Radio France Internationale · Dec 5, 2023

Niger’s junta ends security agreements with EU, turns to Russia for defence cooperation

Niger’s junta on Monday scrapped two key military agreements that the West African nation signed with the European Union to help fight the violence in Africa’s Sahel region as the country's army leaders and a senior Russian defence official discussed military cooperation.

France 24 · Dec 4, 2023

Niger’s junta revokes key security agreements with EU and turns to Russia for defense partnership

Niger’s junta has scrapped two key military agreements that the West African nation signed with the European Union to help fight violence in Africa’s Sahel region

The Independent UK · Dec 4, 2023