CURRENT CONTEXT : Russia has signed a nuclear agreement with Niger, increasing its presence and influence in the Sahel region of West Africa.

• This move comes at a time when the region is already facing political instability, terrorism, and foreign competition for resources.

ABOUT SAHEL REGION

• Location: A semiarid belt across western and north-central Africa
• Stretch: About 5,000 kilometres, from Atlantic Ocean (Senegal) to Red Sea (Eritrea)
• Region Type: Transitional zone between the Sahara Desert in the north and the humid savannas in the south

COUNTRIES COVERED : Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea

VEGETATION AND CLIMATE

• Type: Semiarid steppe (dry grassland)
• Plants: Low grass, thorny bushes, acacia and baobab trees
• Climate: Long dry seasons, low rainfall