Sahel
| Sahel | |
|---|---|
Throughout the Sahel, rammed earth construction is widespread, as exemplified by this medieval mosque in Burkina Faso | |
The Sahel region in Africa: a belt up to 1,000 km (620 mi) wide that spans 5,400 km (3,360 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Afrotropical |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
| Borders | List
|
| Animals | Camels, horses |
| Bird species | Migratory birds |
| Mammal species | Oryx, gazelles, African buffalo |
| Geography | |
| Area | 3,053,200 km2 (1,178,800 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Elevation | 200 and 400 meters (660 and 1,310 ft) |
| Rivers | Senegal, Niger, Nile |
| Climate type | Tropical savanna climates (Aw), Hot Semi-arid (BSh), Hot Desert (BWh) |
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 Sahel has a hot semi-arid climate and stretches across the southernmost latitudes of North Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea. Although geographically located in the tropics, the Sahel does not have a tropical climate.
Especially in the western Sahel, there are frequent shortages of food and water due to its very high government corruption and the semi-arid climate. This is exacerbated by very high birthrates across the region, resulting in a rapid increase in population. In recent times,[1] various coups, insurgencies, terrorism[2] and foreign interventions have taken place in many Sahel countries, especially across former Françafrique.
In addition to its ecological and climatic significance, the Sahel is also considered a geopolitical space, shaped by internal instability and external strategic competition.[3][4][5]
- ^ "Violent Extremism in the Sahel | Global Conflict Tracker". www.cfr.org. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Clingendael Institute, "The Sahel’s New Geopolitics", June 2024.
- ^ Vision of Humanity, "Democracy vs. Security: The Sahel’s Geopolitical Realignment", 25 September 2024.
- ^ The Washington Post, "Crossroads of Conflict", 19 February 2025.