Growth of Violence and Forced Migration in Sahel Region of Africa

Animation illustrating the spreading violence in the Sahel over recent 20 year period by the World Economic Forum (WEF)

1. Given below are some articles relating to food insecurity, growth of violence, and forced migration due to climate change in the Sahel Region of Africa:
Amid the unrest, poverty and climate change, the UN said internal displacement had increased 20-fold in less than two years and the number of families facing hunger has tripled.

c) BBC: Nigeria’s security crises – five different threats By Aliyu Tanko
Nigeria is faced with an unprecedented wave of different but overlapping security crises – from kidnapping to extremist insurgencies – almost every corner of the country has been hit by violence and crime.

d) UNHCR: Sahel internal displacement tops 2 million as violence surges by Moussa Bougma in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso, 22 January 2021 
Grim milestone reached in world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis as fighting uproots 11,400 within Burkina Faso.
Aguiratou Diallo (right) and her family, who were internally displaced following violence, pictured in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso, in January.

e) ReliefWeb: Over 360,000 Persons Displaced in Chad’s Lake Province, Over Half of Province’s Population, 28 Aug 2020

f) UNHCR: Record numbers forced to flee ongoing violence in Burkina Faso, 23 July 2021
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva

i) Yale Global: Climate Change Expands the Terrorist Threat, Thursday, July 25, 2019
Terrorist groups feign leadership on climate change, hijacking environmental narratives to challenge fragile governments in the Middle East and Africa, Austin Bodetti
j) VoA: Climate Change to Cause Chaos in Africa, Warn Scientists By Henry Ridgwell. August 5, 2019 09:42 AM
Climate change will hit many African countries more severely than previously thought, according to a new report. Researchers warn that rapid population growth means more and more people will be affected by extreme weather events across the continent in the coming years.
o) Arab News: A plague of coups plunges Africa’s Sahel into anarchy by BARIA ALAMUDDIN, July 31, 2023
p) CFR: Climate Change and Conflict in the Sahel, Nov 2022
The African countries of the Sahel stand to be among the most affected by climate change. To help mitigate its effects, Beza Tesfaye argues that the United States should partner with civil society groups and expand climate adaptation and financing efforts.
q) Climate-diplomacy.org: Climate change, vulnerability and security in the Sahel, 30 November, 2022
Climate change plays an important role in the future of the Sahel. Temperatures could rise 1.5 times faster than the global average and climate shocks and extreme events are projected to become more frequent and severe. These changes are accompanied by other challenges: accelerated population growth, low economic productivity and production diversity, political conflicts and crises, inter-communal violence and violent extremism. Looking ahead to 2050, this paper presents three scenarios for the part of the Sahel comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
Climate Change and Conflict in the Sahel
2. Additional webpages containing links to more articles about climate and security:
3) Google searches to more related articles: