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West African Studies a

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An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel ce

GeoGrAphy, economicS And Security

An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel
GeoGrAphy, economicS And Security

SAHEL AND
WEST AFRICA Club
Secretariat
 About

The Atlas builds on maps and statistics to analyse, from Five leading personalities complete the publication by
a regional perspective, the challenges facing the Sahara- expressing the region’s key challenges with regard to their
Sahel. It describes the Sahara-Sahelian space and geography Sahel strategies.
(Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger
and Tunisia), reveals some socio-economic indicators of The Atlas is available in English and French, and the analysis
the area and decrypts the various security (terrorism and is illustrated with more than 100 maps and 30 figures.
trafficking) and development challenges linked to mobility
(trans-Saharan routes and trade, migration, nomadism, This At a Glance edition:
borders and free movement). A strengthened, consolidated
• introduces the Sahara-Sahelian space and geography;
and continuing dialogue among North, West and Central
• presents some socio-economic indicators; and
Africa is an essential element for the long term stabilisation
of the Sahara-Sahel. • highlights the various links between mobility, networks
and security.
The countries analysed in this study

Tunis
Algiers
TUNISIA
Atlantic Ocean Mediterranean
Rabat las
At Laghouat Tozeur
MOROCCO Benghazi
ALGERIA Tripoli
Béchar
rg Cairo
râa ern E Ghadames
uD est n Erg
d W ster Awjilah
da Tademaït Ea
ma Iguidi Adrar
Ha Tindouf Plateau In Amenas
Erg LIBYA
Laayoune In Salah Tassili n
’Aj Libyan Desert
Reggane jer Marzuq
Chech Erg
Ghat
Tanezrouft EGYPT
Hoggar Djanet
El Djouf Mountains Al Jawf
Zouirat
Fderik Taoudenni Tamanrasset
Tibesti
Nouadhibou MAURITANIA
Atar Ifoghas Tessalit
Adrar
Tidjikdja Arlit Aïr
Nouakchott Mountains Faya Largeau
Trarza
Tagant Timbuktu Agadez
Gao SUDAN
MALI NIGER CHAD
Dakar SENEGAL Khartoum
Mopti
Niamey Zinder Abéché El Fasher
GAMBIA Banjul Bamako
Ouagadougou
GUINEA- Bissau N’Djamena
BURKINA FASO
BISSAU GUINEA BENIN
Conakry
Abuja
Freetown CÔTE TOGO
D’IVOIRE NIGERIA
SIERRA GHANA
LEONE SOUTH SUDAN
Monrovia Yamoussoukro Porto-novo
Lomé CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.
LIBERIA Juba
Accra CAMEROON
Bangui
Malabo Yaoundé
EQUATORIAL 0 500 km
GUINEA
Source: Retaillé D., P. Drevet, O. Pissoat, J. Pierson 2014

National capital Palm grove limit Adrar Principal physical landscapes International border

Other city Cram-Cram limit African country

Equator/Greenwich Meridian crossing not included in study

2
Source: Retaillé D., P. Drevet, O. Pissoat, J. Pierson 2014
An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014
Chapters
Chapter 1 – Sahara-Sahelian space
and geography
The characteristics of Sahara-Sahelian space and geography
are based on social, economic and spatial mobility. Through
a mapping exercise, this chapter describes the Sahara-
Sahel through its ancestral networks, route empires,
borders and its history, migratory movements, tourism
and conflict and instability.
Chapter 2 – Socio-economic indicators
within Sahara-Sahel countries
The indicators are analysed through population and economic
data. Population data show strong growth in Sahel states
and stable growth in North African states, accompanied by
intense urbanisation. Gross domestic Product (GDP) figures
indicate a contrasting picture, with North African economies
having significantly higher GDP growth rates and income
levels than Sahelian economies.
Chapter 3 – Petroleum and networks of
influence in the Sahara-Sahel
Various oil companies have been established over the years.
This chapter analyses the role of Sahara-Sahelian oil in the
regional and global economy and market. The oil and gas
sector accounted for one quarter of the cumulative GDP of
Sahara-Sahel countries in 2013, with Algeria and Libya as
the third and fourth largest African producers.
An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014
Chapter 4 – Ancient and new mobility
in the Sahara-Sahel
The different forms of mobility can be understood through
social dynamics, namely networks. These networks began
developing with trade caravans and have continued to
evolve over time. The rationales underlying this activity
are based on pastoral mobility and solidarity rather than
the relations among states in the region. Political power
plays, particularly between Algeria and Libya, interfere in
their relations with countries in the Sahel.
Chapter 5 – migration and Sahara
The shared human space is centred on economies and
migrations, which are both primarily informal. Starting
in the 1960s, the development of the sparsely populated
Algerian and Libyan Sahara has depended on labour from
the North Sahel. This population redistribution, which has
since persisted, served as the basis for diaspora dynamics
and reinforced regional integration.
Chapter 6 – Nomadism and mobility
in the Sahara-Sahel
Nomadism and its various forms of mobility and pastoralism
connect the Sahara and the Sahel. It has adapted to change
through partial, limited sedentarisation and diversified
means of livelihoods. This chapter describes the continuity
and change of pastoralism, notably social recomposition,
migration and the nomadic space.
3
 Chapter 7 – Borders, cross-border
co-operation and freedom of movement
in the Sahara-Sahel
The cross-border functional dynamics in the Sahara-Sahel
are important to understanding borders, cross-border
co-operation and freedom of movement. Border regions
perform a number of functions in an institutional context,
where free movement is subject to the uncertainties of
political developments and, more recently, of security
concerns. Traffickers’ use of border networks and corridors
for various activities that feature differing degrees of violence
is an added complication today.
Chapter 8 – Security issues, movement
and networks in the Sahara-Sahel
This chapter describes the evolution of regional instability
in the Sahara-Sahel since the 1960s. The analysis empha-
sises that the nature of conflicts has changed over the past
decade. Less locally contained and often cross-border and
more violent in nature, these modern-day crises require
new institutional responses that can adapt to the flexibility
of terrorist networks.
Chapter 9 – Trafficking economies in the
Sahara-Sahel
The nature of trafficking and its geographical scales, as
well as its effect in the Sahara-Sahel, are important to the
understanding of current mobility and instabilities. The role
of trafficking cannot be underestimated both in terms of its
structuring or destructuring effects on politics, territories
or societies. Trafficking connects the Sahara-Sahel to the
world economy, which is an indication of the international
scale of national and cross-border issues.
4 An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014
Chapter 10 – An institutional point
of view on the challenges of the
Sahara-Sahel
The insights provided by representatives of the EU, UN,
AU and ECOWAS illustrate the development and security
challenges faced by the Sahara-Sahel. These initiatives call
for the strengthening of dialogue among all actors involved
to achieve lasting peace and security for the West African
population.
The contributors to this chapter are:
• Mr Michel Reveyrand de Menthon, European Union
Special Representative for the Sahel;
Mr. Jérôme Spinoza, Political Adviser to the European
Union Special Representative for the Sahel.
• Ms Hiroute Guebre Sellassie, Special Envoy of the
United Nations Secretary General for the Sahel.
• Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer
of the Secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development (NEPAD).
• Mr Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo, President of the Economic
Community of West African States Commission
(ECOWAS).
spaces and geography
An understanding of the Sahara-Sahel on the basis of its
social, economic and spatial mobility can help bring together
its two sides and reactivate an area of mobility currently
viewed as segmented. The main element of this approach is
moving beyond two contradictory ways of thinking about
space – as production or as movement.
The production perspective indicates that bioclimatic
zones determining production dominate the geographic
understanding of the area. In this view, the 200 mm annual
precipitation isohyet is defined as the cut-off point for aridity,
The “geographic” Sahel
Average annual rainfall (mm/year)
0 50 200 400 600 and more
An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014
below which farming and herding are no longer possible.
The annual precipitation isohyet is often used to delimit the
Sahara-Sahel. However, this approach does not fully reflect
the reality of the Sahara-Sahel, which is characterised by
trade, complementarity and movement.
By contrast, the movement perspective indicates that a
spatial understanding based on movement or routes sheds
light on other opportunities for socio-economic ties and on
the vitality of networks.
Source: UNEP, Environmental Data Explorer – http://geodata.grid.unep.ch
5
 Is the Sahara-Sahel empty, as is often claimed? The answer
is yes if we refer to the population density per square
km. The Atlas suggests another image in calculating the
number of inhabitants per km of road or trail. This illus-
tration shows, in the area thought to be empty, significant
population densities along the routes. For Sahara-Sahel
inhabitants, the territory is bound to the road. Ultimately,
the space between the roads is of very little importance.
Along this network of roads we find a large number of
towns and we have to bear in mind that most Sahara-Sahel
residents are town-dwellers. Often, these towns are oases
whose location is determined not by the presence of water,
but rather by their function as stopovers, or as transit and
trade locations.

Linear density of population

Number of inhabitants by linear km of road

(including Saharan trails) Algiers
0-80 Tunis
80-180 Rabat
180-600
Tripoli
600-2 500
2 500-6 000 Béchar
6 000-72 000 El Golea
Key cities (more Hun
than 10 000 inhab.) Adrar
Tindouf Birak
Laayoune Sabha
Reggane
Marzuq
Arak Ghat

Al Jawf
Zouerat
Tamanrasset
Nouadhibou Atar

Nouakchott
Timbuktu Agadez
Gao

Dakar
Abéché
Mopti
Niamey
Bamako N’Djamena

Source: DIVA, 2013 (www.diva-gis.org/gdata)

6 An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014

 Algiers
Alger Tunis
Trans-Saharan commerce according to Monod’s circulation zones
Fès
Mogador Tripoli Benghazi
t
fi fel Ouargla
d Ta
an
aa
Dr
Ghadames
Touat
Fezzan

Tidikelt
Ghat Koufra
I III
Al Qatroun
II
Adrar
Kawar Tibesti
Tidjikja

Oualata Faya
Aïr
cir cle
N iger
Bornu Waddai Darfour
Hausa lands

Cities and rest stops Sedentary cores I Western zone, Moorish

Trans-Saharan routes Oasis cores II Central zone, Tubu

Dry zones Saharan empty areas III Eastern zone, Touareg

Source: Drozdz M. 2005, geoconfluences.ens-lyon.fr, ENS-Lyon / DGESCO

City population

Cities

10 000 - 50 000

50 000 - 100 000

100 000 - 350 000

350 000 - 1 million

1 - 2 million

2 - 4 million

more than 4 million

Other city

Source: Natural Earth 2013 (www.naturalearthdata/downloads/10m-cultural-vectors/10m-populated-places/)

An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014 7

 the population and the economy

The countries of the Sahara-Sahel are classified into two groups: The Sahara-Sahel covers 9.6 million km², more than twice
the area of the European Union and representing nearly
• North Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia), and one-third of the African continent. Since the partition of
• the Sahel (Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad). Sudan, Algeria is the largest country in Africa in terms of
surface area, with 2.4 million km 2. The four North African
The population countries have a combined surface area of 4.8 million km 2,
and Algeria accounts for 50% of this.
In 2012, the combined population of the 8 Sahara-Sahel
countries was 136 million. The 4 North African countries Urbanisation has been the most important manifestation of
have a combined population of 88 million, almost double population dynamics observed over the past half century in
the combined population of its four Sahelian neighbours West Africa. Although Sahelian countries still have some
(48 million). of the lowest levels of urbanisation in the world, the pace of
urbanisation has been astonishing. The level of urbanisation
Between 1990 and 2010, the population in the Sahel grew in the Sahel increased from 2% in 1950 to 25% in 2010.
by an average annual rate of 3.3%, almost doubling from The urban population increased 46-fold, from 250 000 to
23.7 million to 45.2 million inhabitants. By contrast, growth 11.6 million people, at an average annual rate of 6.6% per year.
rates in North Africa slowed down to 1.5% (from 63.3 million
to 85.4 million inhabitants) during the 1990–2010 period.

Population by country, 2012

North Africa (88 million inhabitants)

Algeria Morocco Tunisia Libya

38.5 32.5 11 6

Sahel (48 million inhabitants)

= 1 million

Niger Mali Chad Mauritania Source: SWAC/OECD based on WDI 2014, World Bank
17 15 12.5 4

8 An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014

Surface area by country and region (in million km2)

North Africa (4.8 million km2) Sahel (4.8 million km2)

Tunisia 0.2 Libya 1.8 Mali 1.2 Mauritania 1

Morocco 0.4

Niger 1.3 Chad 1.3

Algeria 2.4

Source: WDI 2014, World Bank

Population growth and total population in North Africa and Sahel, 1950–2012
2.3 Population growth and total populatio in North Africa and Sahel, 1950-2010
%
3.5 38.3
45.2 Sahel

32.3
3.0

29
37.7 63.3
2.5 48.7
23.7
18.6

2.0 14.9
12.3 75.2 North Africa
1.5
85.4
79.7
1.0

0.5

14.9 Total population in million

0
1950–60 1960–70 1970–80 1980–90 1990–00 2000–05 2005–10 *

Source: SWAC/OECD based on DESA UN, World Population Prospects: the 2012 Revision * The population figures correspond
to end of period values.

An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014 9

 Evolution of country population (in million)

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2012

Morocco Algeria
9 38.5

12.3 15.9 19.8 26.2 31.7

Algeria Morocco
8.9 32.5

11.3 14.7 19.5 24.7 28.7

Mali Niger
4.6 17.2
5.1 5.7 6.7 8.1 11

Tunisia Mali
3.1 14.9
3.9 4.4 5.8 8 10.3

Niger Chad
2.6 12.5
3.3 4.4 5.8 7.8 9.6

Chad Tunisia
2.5 10.8
3 3.6 4.5 6 8.3

Libya Libya
1.1 6.2
1.4 2.1 3.1 4.3 5.2

Mauritania Mauritania
0.7 3.8
0.9 1.2 1.5 2 2.7

Source: DESA UN, World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision and WDI 2013, World Bank

10 An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014

Urban areas in the Sahel, 1950 – 1980 – 2010

1950 Number of inhabitants 10 000 – 15 000 100 000 – 300 000

15 000 – 50 000 300 000 – 1 million
50 000 – 100 000 > 1 million

MAURITANIA

NIGER
MALI

CHAD

1980

2010

Source: Africapolis - SWAC/OECD 2014

An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014 11

 The economy

The Sahara-Sahel encompasses economies that are of diverse
sizes and levels of development. In 2012, the combined GDP of
Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia surpassed that of its southern
neighbours (Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) by a factor of
11. Chad, Mali and Niger are low-income countries, whereas
Libya is a high-income country. Morocco is the only North
African country that is still a lower-middle-income country,
although its GNI per capita exceeds that of Mauritania by
260% (and those of Chad and Mali by 400%).
Over the last two decades, the real GDP growth rate of
Sahelian countries exceeded that of North Africa. Since
2000, GDP growth has further accelerated in the Sahel
and averaged 5.5%. With the exception of Niger, all Sahel
countries grew faster than their North African neighbours.

The Sahara-Sahelian GDP divide

North Africa (412 billion USD) Sahel (32 billion USD)

Chad Niger
11 7

Mali
10

= 5 billion

Algeria Morocco Libya* Tunisia Mauritania

208 96 62 46 4

* latest data available 2009 Source: SWAC/OECD based on WDI 2013, World Bank

Per capita income

GNI per inhabitant (Atlas method, current USD)
14 000
high income
12 615 12 930

10 000

8 000

6 000

upper middle income

4 085 4 150 4 110
lower middle income
2 950
2 000
low income
1 035
1 110
740 660
370
0
Libya* Tunisia Algeria** Morocco Mauritania Chad Mali Niger

* 2009 data; ** 2011 data

Source: SWAC/OECD based on WDI 2013, World Bank

12 An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014

2.18 Per capita real GDP growth rates 1970-2012

Per capita real GDP growth rates over the past four decades (annual average)

Chad

4
3.4 North Africa average** Morocco
Tunisia
2.6
Libya*
2.1 Mauritania
2 Algeria
Mali
0.6 0.6

0
Sahel average -0.8 Niger
-0.3
-1.0

-2
1970-80 1980-90 1990-00 2000-12

-4

* Data for Libya 2000–2009

** North Africa average excluding Libya Source: SWAC/OECD based on WDI 2013, World Bank

Two important challenges

Mobile and flexible criminal networks and

trafficking at the regional scale

For a long time, geographers have identified the complex
relationship between mobility and territory. Social networks
have played a major role in enhancing mobility and
exchanges as well as erasing the very notion of borders.
Historically, the Sahel and the Sahara were linked by
networks of pre-colonial empires founded on movement or,
more accurately, on the control of roads and trade. Today, the
spatial organisation of the Sahara-Sahel captures the new
conditions of the globalised world where places primarily
function through the intersection of flows, such as the flow
of goods and people. The development of urban centres,
social networks and traders is at the nexus of all these flows.
Criminal networks – terrorism and the trafficking of arms,
drugs and human beings – are taking advantage of this
spatial and social structure.

An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014 13

 Trafficking in the Sahara-Sahel has been facilitated by
intense spatial mobility and continuous circulation relying
on old influential networks. In some cases, trafficking has
even enjoyed the support of local communities. The crisis in
Mali has made the effect of trafficking visible, particularly
its link with the financing of Salafi jihadists. Trafficking also
raises questions regarding economic ties on both sides of
the Sahara. The Maghreb is the point of origin and reception
of trafficked products, which take place along traditional
trans-Saharan trade routes.
Adapting policies and strengthening co-operation among
neighbouring states, securing borders, preventing criminal
development and formulating appropriate responses to
flexible and mobile criminal networks to control national
territory are particularly important challenges for the region.

Boko Haram
NIGER
Zinder
Maradi Diffa
Sokoto CHAD
Sokoto
Katsina
Katsina
N’Djamena
Jigawa Yobe
Zamfara Kano
Maiduguri
Kano
Kebbi

BENIN Gombe
Kaduna
Bauchi CAMEROON

Niger Jos
Adamawa

Plateau
Kwara Abuja Geographic origin and
Nassarawa diffusion of activities of the
Oyo sect since 2009
Taraba
Kogi Main area of activity of the
Ekiti
Osun sect 2014
Benue
Ondo Arms trafficking
Ogun
Nigerian states with
Lagos Edo Enugu
Sharia law
Ebonyi
Anambra
Ethnolinguistic areas
Cross
Delta Imo Abia River Kanuri
Hausa
Akwa
Bayelsa Rivers Yoruba
Ibom
Ibo
Source: SWAC/OECD 2014

14 An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014

 The ephemeral Azawad
Area controlled by Ansar Dine
LIBYA
Surge by Ansar Dine

MNLA progress ALGERIA

Azawad

Touareg
Tamanrasset

Town attacked by the MNLA

since january 2012

Town captured by the MNLA

and Ansar Dine (between
February 8 and April 3, 2012). Tessalit
Taken over by Ansar Dine after Ti-n-Zaouatene
austing the MNLA (between
March 18 and October 1, 2012)
Aguelhok
MAURITANIA
Attack or kidnapping claimed by Arlit
AQIM between 2007 and 2012

Anéfis Kidal
Border

Road Agadez
Bourem
Timbuktu Niger
Goundam
Diré Gao NIGER
Niafounké Ménaka
Léré Ansongo
Andéramboukane
Douentza
Towns and cities MALI
Mopti Zinder
More than 1 million BURKINA Niamey Maradi
More than 100 000 Ségou FASO
Sokoto Nguru
50 000 - 100 000 Gashua
Koutiala Katsina
10 000 - 50 000
Bamako
Birnin-Kebbi
NIGERIA
Ouagadougou
Other locality Gusau Kano

Sources: Retaillé D. and O. Walther, New ways of conceptualizing space and mobility 2012; Africapolis - SWAC/OECD 2014; Natural Earth 2013

Transnational nature of instability and the

responses
Identifying responses to the security challenges under- There are numerous initiatives. The United Nations, the
mining the stability of the Sahara-Sahel must be done in African Union, ECOWAS and the heads of state of 5 Sahelian
a transnational manner through strong regional co-oper- countries – Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger
ation and co-ordination. Security challenges affect not only (G5 Sahel) – have formulated regional strategies aimed to
North, West and Central Africa but also the international stabilise and develop the Sahara-Sahel. Many multilateral
community. institutions are committed to working alongside them, with
the European Union at the forefront along with the main
Institutional cross-border and/or regional responses should development banks (World Bank, African Development
be based on a thorough understanding of the nature of Bank, Islamic Development Bank, etc.).
terrorism and trafficking in the Sahara-Sahel.

An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014 15

 The bearers of these strategies meet regularly, but opera-
tional and co-ordination challenges remain immense. The
difficult question of how to distribute tasks among the insti-
tutions has not yet been decided.
Is the geographic scope of responses well suited? How can
Nigeria especially be well considered in these strategies?
Nigeria is taken into account only accessorily. How can the
necessary co-operation between Maghreb and Sub-Saharan
countries be developed? Last, there is the complex issue
regarding the simultaneous implementation of security and
development actions.

Cocaine flows

Transit areas
TUNISIA
Transatlantic flows
Regional flows
MOROCCO
Main coastal transit countries

ALGERIA LIBYA

EGYPT
WESTERN
SAHARA

MALI
MAURITANIA NIGER

SUDAN
SENEGAL CHAD
CAPE-VERDE
GAMBIA BURKINA
GUINEA-BISSAU FASO NIGERIA
Highway Ten GUINEA BENIN

TOGO
CÔTE SOUTH
SIERRA LEONE D’IVOIRE SUDAN
C.A.R.
Name given by the cartels CAMEROON
to the maritime route along LIBERIA GHANA
the 10°N parallel

Source: UNODC 2013

16 An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014

Niger faced with regional threats

LIBYA

ALGERIA

NIGER
Arlit
Kidal

Agadez
MALI Agadem

CHAD

Zinder
Maradi Diffa
Niamey

Dosso Sokoto

Kano N’Djamena
Maïduguri

BOKO HARAM

Abuja

NIGERIA

Ethnolinguistic groups Saharan zone: less than 200 mm Area regularly food and nutrition
of rainfall per year; approximately insecure
600 000 km² and less than 0.5 million
inhabitants in its Nigerien part. Area of conflict / instability
EG
TUB

R Uranium mines and oil.

UA
TO Sahel’s vulnerable zone: the inter- Regional diffusion of instability
U

annual variation of the length of the rainy

season exceeds 30%. Approximately Involuntary migration
5 million rural inhabitants in its Nigerien
HAUS A RI part, predominantly agro-pastoralists.
NU
KA

An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014 17

 THE CLUB: WORKING TOGETHER FOR REGIONAL INTEGRATION

we are the only international platform entirely dedicated to regional issues in West Africa.

OUR MISSION is to enhance the effectiveness of regional policies and of partner support.

WE DO this by:

Facilitating dialogue, information-sharing and consensus-building;

Providing independent, factual and forward-looking analysis;
Devising guidelines and policy tools.

Our Areas of Work:

regional governance of food & nutrition security (FNS), a permanent networking effort:
We facilitate consensus-building and help improve co-ordination.

West African Futures (WAF), a two-year thematic cycle promoting innovative approaches for policies
and international co-operation strategies: In 2015-16, we focus on cross-border co-operation.

Our Members include three West African organisations (ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS) and seven OECD member
countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States).

The European Union is an important partner and contributes to our financing.

As Observers, the African Union/NEPAD Agency, Canada and ROPPA are closely associated with our work.

Stay connected
• www.oecd.org/swac
• West Africa Gateway www.westafricagateway.org
• Weekly Newsbrief - Sign up on the gateway! www.westafricagateway.org/
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18 An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014

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An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel © OECD 2014 19

West African Studies
An Atlas of the Sahara-Sahel
GeoGrAphy, economicS And Security
While the Sahara-Sahel region has experienced recurrent episodes of instability, the recent crises in Libya
and Mali have increased the level of violence. These two crises have reshaped the region’s geopolitical and
geographical dynamics. The current crises are cross-border and regional, and addressing them requires new
institutional responses. How can the countries that share this space – Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mali, Morocco,
Mauritania, Niger and Tunisia – in collaboration with other countries of the region, such as Nigeria, work
together towards its stabilisation and development?
Historically, the Sahara plays the role of intermediary between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Even
before Roman times, the area was criss-crossed by roads, principally serving a military use in this period.
Today, commercial and human exchange is vibrant, founded on social networks. These networks have
more recently been used by traffickers. Understanding the nature of this trafficking, the geographic and
organisational mobility of criminal groups, as well as migratory movements is of strategic importance. This
work aims to contribute towards this objective and to help inform the Sahel strategies of the European Union,
United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) in their attempts to
forge a lasting peace.
This Atlas proposes a cartographic and regional analysis of security and development issues. It provides
objective information for the necessary dialogue between regional and international organisations, states,
researchers and local stakeholders.
part i. reactivating a space of fragmented circulation
Chapter 1. Sahara-Sahelian space and geography
Chapter 2. Socio-economic indicators within Sahara-Sahel countries
Chapter 3. Petroleum and networks of influence in the Sahara-Sahel
part ii. Securing the Sahara-Sahel by integrating its social and spatial mobility
Chapter 4. Ancient and new mobility in the Sahara-Sahel
Chapter 5. Migration and the Sahara
Chapter 6. Nomadism and mobility in the Sahara-Sahel
Chapter 7. Borders, cross-border co-operation and freedom of movement in the Sahara-Sahel
Chapter 8. Security issues, movement and networks in the Sahara-Sahel
Chapter 9. Trafficking economies in the Sahara-Sahel
Chapter 10. An institutional point of view on the challenges of the Sahara-Sahel