By Isolde Doubell
“The Sahel is arguably one of the most dangerous—and at the same time, most neglected—regions in the world. It has become a safe haven for violent Islamic militants, drug cartels and human traffickers (using the region as a useful transportation route). Above all, it is a region where Christians are particularly vulnerable and face high levels of insecurity. Over the last few years, World Watch Research has documented the kidnapping, displacement and killing of Christians in this region.” These are the words of Open Doors World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele.
Geography and Climate
The Sahel is a semi-arid strip of land in northern Africa between the Sahara Desert and the more humid greener savanna to the south, stretching for about 6,000 kilometres. It is home to over 100 million people and covers parts of countries like Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Sudan, although its exact borders are not clearly defined. The word “Sahel” comes from the Arabic word for the “coast,” referring to its position along the edge of the desert. With temperatures rising 1.5 times faster than the global average, unpredictable rainfall, and recurring droughts, land that once supported communities is turning to dust.
In 2007, the African Union launched the Great Green Wall initiative to combat desertification, land degradation, and climate change. Although the initiative is far behind on its initial goals, some notable successes can be seen in individual countries:
- Senegal has planted more than 18 million drought-resistant trees and restored over 254,000 hectares of land. This has boosted soil fertility and helped farmers deal with unpredictable rainfall.
- Ethiopia has planted billions of trees overall—including a staggering 350 million in a single day. Restoration projects have improved soil quality, and some farmers say their crop yields have doubled.
- Niger has restored more than 200 million trees through farmer-managed natural regeneration, which has increased grain harvests and strengthened food security.
The project aims to restore up to 100 million hectares by 2030. These examples show that land degradation is not irreversible. With the right techniques, even barren landscapes can be brought back to life. However, the pace of restoration remains uneven, with some countries making much more progress than others.
Politics
In recent years, the Sahel has seen major political changes. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have all had coups and are now led by military governments. These three countries left the regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2025 and formed the Alliance of Sahel States. ECOWAS was created in 1975 to promote economic integration, and has become focused on peace, security, and political stability in the Sahel, but with the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger its influence in the region has weakened.
Terrorism and violent extremism continue to threaten stability in the Sahel. Extremist groups, including al-Qaeda affiliates and Islamic State factions, are taking advantage of weak governance, community divisions, and economic hardship to expand their reach and disrupt local communities. Data from the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, shows terrorism remains highly concentrated. Just under 70 per cent of deaths from terrorism occurred in only five countries: Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Six of the ten countries most impacted by terrorism are in sub-Saharan Africa, and three of the top five are in the Sahel region. This leads to the displacement of thousands of people, poverty, and extreme vulnerability.
Religion
The Sahel region is mostly Muslim, although there are significant Christian minorities, especially in Nigeria. However, Nigeria is also the country where—particularly in the north and central regions—Christians suffer significant and severe persecution, to such a degree that Nigeria is 7th on Open Doors’ World Watch List. Seven of the 10 Sahel countries are on the World Watch List, which shows how difficult it is for Christians in this region. According to the January 2026 World Watch List, the total number of believers killed for their faith increased from 4,476 in 2025 to 4,849 in the 2026 reporting period. The majority of the killings are happening in Nigeria, which totalled 3,490 killings, up from 3,100 the previous year.
Armed groups linked to Islamist extremism, bandit militias, and herder-farmers are all wreaking havoc in the Sahel region, killing randomly, mass-abducting people in the northern part of Nigeria, and causing the displacement of more than 16.2 million Christians, according to Open Doors. Any Christians living in places dominated by these extremist groups will be targeted. Believers—especially converts from Islam—must worship in secret, living under the constant threat of violence, abduction, and death.
In northern Nigeria, 12 states have implemented Islamic law, creating a system where Christians are under intense scrutiny. However, not all conflict in the Sahel is purely religious—many clashes are also linked to land, resources, and ethnic differences.
“When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” Matthew 9:36.
Please pray for the Sahel region:
- For Christians in the Sahel to experience God’s presence, compassion and provision in their suffering and tragedy. That they will be strengthened in their faith and know Jesus as the Great Shepherd of His sheep. He comforts the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. He hears the cries of His people (Psalm 34:17-18)
- For the global Church to reach out to the people of the Sahel and help them in their time of need so that they may know they are not alone. The turmoil in the Sahel over the past decade has severely limited mission activity, and many areas are now closed. We as the global Church can intercede and strengthen the local organisations, churches and missions.
- For leaders of the terrorist organisations to encounter Jesus.
- For godly leaders for the countries in the Sahel so that stability can come to the region.
Sources:
https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/monthly-forecast/2025-11/west-africa-and-the-sahel-15.php
https://greenly.earth/en-gb/blog/industries/what-is-the-great-green-wall
https://lausanne.org/about/blog/the-sahel-finishing-the-task
https://www.britannica.com/place/Sahel
https://www.opendoors.org.za/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/nigeria/
https://www.opendoors.org.za/a-church-on-the-run-where-is-god/
