Challenges in the Sahel: Implications for peace and development

A ‘perfect storm’ – an extraordinary combination of poverty, violent conflict, corruption, criminality, and climate change – is blowing over Mali and across the Sahel.

Within this storm, some unusual actors have emerged. Politicians are known to be corrupt but still get elected and smugglers are criminalised by authorities but are also the only providers of employment in disintegrating local economies.

This report is part of a series that Christian Aid is producing to understand what ought to be done differently in tackling violence and building peace.