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Trafficking in the Sahel - Guns, Gas, and Gold

The Sahel region in Africa is facing a growing problem of trafficking, involving various goods such as chili peppers, fake medicine, fuel, gold, guns, and humans. These illicit activities are carried out through long-standing trade routes that span across the Sahel, which is home to over 300 million people across countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal.

The Sahel is described by the UN as a region in crisis: those living there are prey to chronic insecurity, climate shocks, conflict, coups, and the rise of criminal and terrorist networks. UN agencies expect that more than 37 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2023, about 3 million more than in 2022.

The UN and partners are trying out new, collaborative ways to thwart those attempting the illegal practice, a growing problem in this fragile African region.

InFocus

Gilbertson/UNICEF

The Nigerien army patrols the Sahara desert targetting militant groups including ISIL and Boko Haram.

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