The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a development agreement “to strengthen social and economic development in the Sahel.”
The Sahel has been in a social and political crisis with multiple overlapping conflicts, and the deal is meant to feed into addressing the root causes of instability in the region.The economic boost may help ease the crises in the region, the conflicts and multiple interests, which have seen the region become a proxy for other conflicts such as the Russia Ukraine war.AfDB and USAID signed the deal in Dakar, Senegal. “This agreement is about unlocking the tremendous potential of the Sahel, building resilience, and fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for its people,” Lamin Barrow, AfDB‘s Director General for West Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office said during the ceremony.
The Sahel region spans about 5, 900kms, stretching from The Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. It is an ecological transition zone bordered by the Sahara desert to its North, and the start of the Sudanian savannah to its south. At its most basic definition, it includes Mali, Chad, Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Some definitions also include northeastern Nigeria, Sudan, The Gambia, Niger, and Senegal.
“This agreement will build on the long-standing relationship between the two institutions to provide meaningful and direct opportunities for the people of the region, ensuring they have access to economic growth, governance, and essential services,” Alyssa Leggoe, USAID/Senegal Mission Director said.
