The Sahel region, a semi-arid strip of Africa stretching from the Atlantic in the west to the Red Sea in the east, faces a complex geopolitical situation characterised by a combination of economic, social, environmental and security challenges. It includes countries such as Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania, among others.

In recent years, the region has been a focus of instability due to the proliferation of extremist groups that take advantage of weak local governments and the vast and difficult geography to establish bases and launch attacks, exacerbating insecurity. In parallel, the region suffers from recurrent humanitarian crises caused by extreme poverty, lack of access to basic services, and the impacts of climate change, such as prolonged droughts and desertification, which exacerbate food and water shortages.

The international community has attempted to stabilise the region through military interventions, humanitarian aid and development programmes. However, the results have been mixed, and the situation remains volatile, with massive population displacements and continuing human rights violations.