A myriad of problems currently confront the Sahel region including, but not limited to food insecurity, devastating environmental conditions, political instability, and economic uncertainty. Agriculture accounts for up to 45% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in some countries in the region, underscoring the importance of addressing the ongoing hunger crisis of over 11 million people in the region.
These problems are only exacerbated by “a devastating surge in terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets,” according to Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). The situation facing the people and governments of the Sahel region is a desperate one given its lack of media presence and underfunded nature.