The Sahel region (/ səˈhɛl /; from Arabic ساحل (sāḥil [ˈsaːħil]) 'coast, shore'), or Sahelian acacia savanna, is a biogeographical region in Africa. It is the transition zone between the more humid Sudanian savannas to its south and the drier Sahara to the north.

The Alliance of Sahel States [a] (French: Alliance des États du Sahel (AES)) is a confederation formed between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Mar 6, 2025 · The Sahel stretches from the Atlantic Ocean eastward through northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, the great bend of the Niger River in Mali, Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta), southern Niger, northeastern Nigeria, south-central Chad, and into Sudan.

Jan 25, 2025 · With Niger seen as the last bulwark of France’s counterinsurgency efforts in the Sahel, the coup marked a critical end to Western influence in the region. The junta publicly accused France of trying to destabilize the country.

Dec 12, 2024 · For its part, Niger also faces increasing security challenges from multiple militant groups, particularly IS Sahel. IS Sahel consolidated its presence along the Niger-Mali border, in the north of the Dosso region, and through the infiltration of Kebbi and Sokoto states in northwestern Nigeria.

Mar 17, 2024 · The U.S. is scrambling to assess the future of its counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region of Africa after the ruling junta in Niger announced it was ending military cooperation with Washington.

Aug 16, 2021 · An African man taking a walk on the stony slopes and sand dunes in the Sahel, outside Niamey, the capital of Niger. The Sahel can be a harsh region to live in. Nevertheless, several African kingdoms have prospered in the region.

Oct 23, 2024 · A July 26 coup d’etat in Niger, the ninth attempted overthrow of a West African government in the last three years, dealt a significant blow to counterterrorism and stabilization efforts in the...

Nov 24, 2023 · Three West African nations led by military juntas met this week to strengthen a newly formed alliance described by some analysts on Friday as an attempt to legitimize their military governments amid coup-related sanctions and strained relations with neighbors.

Mar 1, 2025 · Germany, which had made Niger the hub for its activities in the Sahel region, is following events in the country anxiously following the 26 July putsch. The toppling of Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum is causing high-level concern in Berlin.