The Sahel

The Sahel is an African region stretching from Mauritania on the Atlantic coast to the Red Sea. Due to its arid climate, the region often suffers from droughts and is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to climate change. The Sahel is further plagued by political instability due to inter-communal conflicts and the presence of terrorist groups, but recent years have seen mass protests and regional interventions bring some positive developments to the region.

Content

AfricaSource

May 29, 2014

Bronwyn Bruton on Boko Haram

By Bronwyn Bruton

On April 14, 2014, more than 200 female students were kidnapped from a school in Nigeria. In May, news of that kidnapping went viral. In a series of videos, Deputy Director Bronwyn Bruton discusses why the social media response to the event has been so huge, its short- and long-term implications, as well as the […]

Conflict Extremism

AfricaSource

May 9, 2014

“Boko Haram’s evolving threat”: J. Peter Pham report for the National Defense University

By J. Peter Pham

Worth reading again: two years ago Dr. Pham authored a report for the US National Defense University on Boko Haram that recent events in Nigeria have proven remains relevant today. In the brief, Dr. Pham reaches back to the 1940s to place the group in its proper social, historical, and political context, and traces its […]

Africa Conflict
REUTERS/Gary Cameron

AfricaSource

May 7, 2014

US help against Boko Haram: “Everything we can do” is not very much

By Bronwyn Bruton

Amid surging public outrage in Nigeria and abroad over Boko Haram’s kidnapping of 223 schoolgirls, President Barack Obama has promised that the United States will do “everything it can” to rescue them. His promise follows a pledge by Secretary of State John Kerry to do “everything possible” to help the Nigerian government defeat Boko Haram, […]

Conflict Extremism
EU defense ministers, February 21, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 21, 2014

EU Defense Ministers Support the Way Forward for CSDP and EU Operations

By European Union

The informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers took place on 20 and 21 February in Athens, chaired by Greek Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos on behalf of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton.

Europe & Eurasia European Union
President Barack Obama and French President François Hollande, May 18, 2012

NATOSource

Feb 10, 2014

Obama and Hollande: France and the US Enjoy a Renewed Alliance

By Barack Obama and François Hollande, Washington Post

Today, American and French diplomats are preparing for talks with Iran that build on the agreement that has halted progress on and rolled back key elements of the Iranian nuclear program.

Africa France
French Air Force Mirage 2000N

NATOSource

Feb 5, 2014

French Hard Power: Living on the Strategic Edge

By Dorothée Fouchaux, AEI

According to the appropriations statute that follows and implements the white paper’s program, the French defense budget will flat line at €3.38 billion over the next two years and creep ever so slowly to €32.51 billion in 2019.

Economy & Business France
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2014

France’s Counterterrorism Operations in Africa Deserve US Support

By Editorial Board, Washington Post

[M]ore than 1,000 French soldiers are still fighting Islamic militants in Mali. Another French intervention force has been dispatched to restore order in the Central African Republic.

France Sahel
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen in Afghanistan

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2014

Defense Minister: Germany Needs to Take More Responsibility Around the World

By René Pfister and Gordon Repinski, Spiegel

New Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen says that it is time for Berlin to take more responsibility. She also dreams of a European army.

Africa Europe & Eurasia
French commandos

NATOSource

Jan 21, 2014

Europe’s Sole Military Force: Giving France Respect Where it is Due

By Gregor Peter Schmitz, Spiegel

In Damascus, Tehran, Tripoli and even Washington, Paris is taken very seriously indeed.

Africa Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Jan 15, 2014

Pham Quoted on Mali

By J. Peter Pham

Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham is quoted by Inter Press Service news agency on the aftermath of conflict in Mali:

Sahel
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Experts

Fellow

Abdoul Salam Bello

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Economy & Business Inclusive Growth

Fellow

Rose Keravuori

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Defense Policy

Fellow

Bachir Ismael Ouedraogo

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Energy & Environment

Fellow

Rama Yade

Senior Director, Africa Center

Africa Center Europe Center

Civil Society Human Rights