An effective US presence remains key for regional stability in the Sahel, and this will be achieved not by doubling down on military might, but by judiciously balancing soft power with targeted support for security initiatives.

Post-coup relations remain fraught between Niger and Benin, evident in Porto Novo’s decision to shut down a key oil pipeline and economic lifeline for Niamey.

UN Chief António Guterres recently declared Africa as the new “epicenter” of global terrorism. Recent developments across the Sahel and beyond are corroborating the view.

Wagner is stepping in to support to Niger junta just as regional support for a strategy of concerted pressure shows signs of fizzling out.

Dozens of protester deaths marks the end of a brief period of hope for democratic transition in Chad.

President Idriss Déby’s sudden death ushers in a dangerous new phase to Sahel geopolitics.

The Sahel was a standout in volatility in 2020, and the security outlook is set to worsen amid signs of a French pullout.

In the absence of a multilateral approach targeting transnational factors destabilizing the Sahel, even the best military intelligence won’t be enough to stem the tide of extremism.

Background on the worsening clashes between Al Qaeda and Islamic State’s regional affiliates in the Sahel.

COVID-19 is upending local security dynamics in some of the most vulnerable parts of Africa.