Scramble for the Sahel – why France, Russia, China and the United States are interested in the region

Posted on Mon 08 January 2024 in Africa • Tagged with Sahel, France, Russia, China, United States, USA, Niger, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso

Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University

Ecoregion AT0713

The Sahel, a region 3,860km wide located south of the Sahara Desert and stretching east-west across the African continent, has been a focus of attention around the world recently.

In the last decade, issues such as terrorism, insecurity and trafficking have characterised the region …


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Sudan’s conflict will have a ripple effect in an unstable region - and across the world

Posted on Wed 10 May 2023 in Africa • Tagged with Sudan, Central African Republic, Egypt, Libya, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, US, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Port Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan Army, RSF, Dagalo, al-Burhan

The raging conflict in Khartoum could negatively affect trade flows through Port Sudan to the rest of the world. Getty Images

John Mukum Mbaku, Weber State University

Sudan, Africa’s third largest country by land mass, shares borders with seven countries in an unstable region. This means that Sudan’s …


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