The socio-economic situation of the Sahel in devastating storm

Abstract

The five francophone countries of the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger) comprise the least developed, the poorest, the most insecure and the most environmentally degraded region of the world.  Four countries are landlocked and poor infrastructure hinders their connectivity. The transformation of their economies has not been completed as they are dominated by primary sectors, namely subsistence agriculture, pastoralism and extractive industries. Manufacturing is underdeveloped, while informal sector is a significant contributor to GDP and employment. The region suffers from multifaceted crisis: a) natural disasters (floods, droughts); b) manmade – security, political, social, demographic, environmental, humanitarian, food, migration – crises; c) armed conflicts and terrorism. However, the region is a land of opportunities: it is rich in natural resources (gold, oil, bauxite, uranium, lithium, iron, copper, tungsten, vanadium, lead, zinc) and renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro), and it has the most youthful and most rapidly growing population on earth. In order to profit from natural and human resources, political stability, strong state institutions, enabling economic environment, inclusive development and the involvement of external financial resources are needed.