About the project

From Mauritania on the Atlantic Ocean to Sudan on the Red Sea, the countries of the Sahel face the challenge of maintaining and deepening democratic governance in the context of a deteriorating security environment. As the incidence of violence, including terrorist attacks, has risen, the region has become increasingly on the global agenda, with vital engagements underway to develop security partnerships, curtail trafficking and smuggling, manage humanitarian responses, and confront the vulnerabilities of climate change. Through reporting and analysis, the Africa Center’s Sahel Watch focuses renewed attention on this dynamic and strategic region.

Sahel Watch

Event Recap Apr 29, 2021

Charting a course in Chad: Implications and analysis

By Africa Center

On Thursday, April 29, the Africa Center hosted a private roundtable on the evolving situation in Chad, featuring US, French, and Chadian perspectives.
Africa Conflict
Sahel Watch

AfricaSource Apr 27, 2021

Washington’s role and responsibility in Chad

By Cameron Hudson

In the midst of the fast-moving changes in Chad, there is an opportunity to begin to address the country’s democracy and development deficits. As Washington contemplates its next steps, emphasis should be placed on listening to Chadians, engaging the African Union, pursuing on-the-ground diplomatic engagement, and acting quickly, yet strategically.
Africa Civil Society
Sahel Watch

Event Recap Mar 27, 2019

Mali’s prime minister and foreign minister discuss security sector

By Africa Center

On Wednesday, March 27, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted H.E. Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga, prime minister, and H.E. Kamissa Camara, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, of the Republic of Mali, for a discussion on the security situation in Mali and the Sahel region. Maïga presented his country’s efforts to improve security at both […]
Africa Democratic Transitions
Sahel Watch

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series Dec 6, 2016

A measured US strategy for the new Africa

By Dr. J. Peter Pham

Africa’s story is increasingly one of economic dynamism that is driven, in part, by political reform and improvements in governance. But, there are also very real security, humanitarian, and developmental challenges that remain to be confronted. The United States has a stake in helping to tackle these challenges, not least because it is in its own national interest to do so.
Africa East Africa
Sahel Watch

Report May 25, 2017

Why Africa matters to US national security

By Grant T. Harris

African nations have rarely been perceived as essential partners in the pursuit of US national security and economic interests, but a re-assessment of Africa’s strategic importance is past due. Transnational threats emanating from the continent continue to evolve, and trade and investment relationships have deepened. A better and broader understanding of the threats and opportunities […]
Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

Photos

Experts

Fellow

Rama Yade

Senior Director, Africa Center

Africa Center Europe Center

Civil Society Human Rights

Fellow

J. Peter Pham

Distinguished Fellow

Africa Center

Politics & Diplomacy National Security

Fellow

Abdoul Salam Bello

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Economy & Business Inclusive Growth

Fellow

Bronwyn Bruton

Africa

Fellow

Private: Pierre Englebert

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Democratic Transitions Elections

All content

AfricaSource

Jul 22, 2019

Reviewing Mauritania’s historic election

By Luke Tyburski

Mauritania’s June 22 presidential election marked the country’s first democratic transfer of power since independence. The ruling party’s Mohamed Ould Ghazouani won with 52 percent of the vote, and his closest challenger, Biram Dah Abeid, received 18 percent. But the election was less of a landslide than the vote totals imply.

Africa Elections

AfricaSource

Jun 18, 2019

Mauritania election primer

By Luke Tyburski

Mauritania’s presidential election on June 22 stands to mark the country’s first democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960. This comes as Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who assumed control in a 2008 coup d’état, has agreed to step down, abiding by term limits. Aziz’s ruling Union for the Republic (UPR) party maintains […]

Africa Elections

Event Recap

Mar 27, 2019

Mali’s prime minister and foreign minister discuss security sector

By Africa Center

On Wednesday, March 27, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted H.E. Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga, prime minister, and H.E. Kamissa Camara, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, of the Republic of Mali, for a discussion on the security situation in Mali and the Sahel region. Maïga presented his country’s efforts to improve security at both […]

Africa Democratic Transitions

AfricaSource

Feb 5, 2019

Bolton’s risky bet in the Sahel

By Matthieu Fernandez

In December, when US National Security Advisor John Bolton previewed the Trump Administration’s security strategy for Africa, he focused more on the rising financial and political influence of China and Russia than on US plans to fight the “proliferation of Radical Islamic Terrorism” across Africa.

Africa National Security

AfricaSource

Dec 10, 2018

Looking for unity in the Sahel

By Matthieu Fernandez

Recognizing the transborder nature of the security, socioeconomic, and environmental challenges facing them – ranging from terrorism to criminal trafficking to a major unemployment crisis – Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad banded together in 2014 to form the Group of Five for the Sahel (G5 Sahel). While Western donor nations celebrated this initiative as a proof of the nations’ mutual commitment to improving the security situation in the region, in reality, the G5 Sahel remains heavily reliant on France and other international donors for funding and operational and logistic capacity, and exercises little decision-making power.

Africa English
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