Sahel

Geography and Climate of the Sahel:
– The Sahel spans 5,900km from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.
– It covers an area of 3,053,200 square kilometers.
– Borders the Sudanian savannas to the south and the Sahara desert to the north.
– Topography is mainly flat with isolated plateaus and mountain ranges.
– Annual rainfall varies from 100–200mm in the north to 700–1,000mm in the south.
– Tropical semi-arid climate with low and irregular precipitation ranging from 200mm to 700mm annually.
– Constant, intense heat with average high temperatures between 36 and 42°C.
– Average low temperatures range from 15 to 31°C.
– High sunshine duration between 2,400 to 3,600 hours yearly.

History and Culture of the Sahel:
– Sahara and Sahel climate started becoming drier around 4000 BC, leading to migrations to West Africa.
– Sahelian kingdoms were monarchies centered in the Sahel from the 9th to 18th centuries.
– Emerged from 750 AD, built cities like Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenné.
– Western Sahel fell to France in the late 19th century.
– People traditionally semi-nomadic, practicing transhumance.
– Polygamy, child marriage, and female genital mutilation are common in the Western Sahel.

Environmental Challenges in the Sahel:
– Over-farming, over-grazing, and natural soil erosion contribute to desertification.
– The Woodless Construction project aims to combat shelter issues.
– The Great Green Wall initiative focuses on reforestation.
– Major dust storms are frequent, affecting countries like Chad and Mauritania.
– Environmental issues contribute to global warming.

Instability, Violence, and Terrorism in the Sahel:
– Hub for terrorist violence with global impact.
– Groups like Boko Haram and al-Qaeda worsen violence.
– United States sent a special envoy in 2020 to combat rising terrorism.
– Libyan Crisis from 2011 increased extremism and instability.
– Military juntas currently rule in multiple Sahel countries.

Human Rights Issues, Political Instability, and Other Challenges:
– Concerns over human rights violations by state security forces.
– Herder-farmer conflicts worsened by climate change.
– Rapid population growth exacerbates conflicts.
– Land degradation contributes to violence.
– Challenges from multiple sources of instability in the Sahel.