Desertification is the degradation process where fertile land transforms into a desert-like state, losing its natural vegetation and topsoil. This phenomenon results from factors like drought, deforestation, climate change, and unsustainable human activities such as overgrazing and improper agriculture.
The Sahel region, a semi-arid belt in Africa, acts as a transitional zone between the Sahara Desert and more humid savannas. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, encompassing parts of Senegal, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudan. This region experiences a hot, semi-arid climate with low and irregular annual rainfall. The ongoing land degradation in the Sahel profoundly impacts its inhabitants.
Food Production and Livelihoods
Desertification severely undermines the ability of Sahelian communities to produce food and maintain their livelihoods. Productive land becomes degraded, with fertile soil losing its capacity to retain water and support plant growth. This degradation is exacerbated by over-cultivation, overgrazing, and deforestation, which strip the land of its natural cover.
As a result, agricultural yields significantly decrease, directly affecting the more than 90% of Sahelian farmers who depend on rain-fed agriculture. For instance, some areas have seen crop production drop by as much as 40% below the five-year average, and up to 90% in conflict-affected regions.
The loss of fertile land also impacts pastoral communities, as grazing lands shrink and become less productive. Herders are forced to travel further to find pasture and water for their livestock, leading to diminished animal health and reduced income. This widespread reduction in agricultural and pastoral output contributes to severe food insecurity across the region. In 2022, an estimated 23 million people in the Sahel faced severe food insecurity, with projections indicating a worsening crisis.
Economic hardship follows, as farmers and herders lose their primary sources of income and rely increasingly on external aid. The reduced availability of local food also drives up prices, making food less accessible for vulnerable populations. This cycle of environmental degradation and economic distress leads to chronic food insecurity, hindering their ability to recover and thrive. Over 38 million people were experiencing acute food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel and West Africa in 2024.
Water Availability and Human Health
Desertification directly contributes to water scarcity, posing significant risks to public health in the Sahel. The drying up of surface water sources, such as rivers and shallow wells, forces communities to seek water from deeper, often less accessible, groundwater reserves or to travel long distances. This increased reliance on potentially contaminated or distant sources compromises access to clean drinking water. In Chad, nearly 50% of the population is exposed to drinking water with high levels of E. coli, and over 50% of people in Burkina Faso and Niger lack access to safe drinking water.
Reduced access to clean water has serious health implications, including poor sanitation and a higher incidence of water-borne diseases. Diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery are prevalent, particularly among children, and can lead to severe illness and death. For example, diarrheal diseases are a leading cause of death for children under five, accounting for over 300,000 deaths annually in affected regions. The lack of clean water also exacerbates malnutrition, as proper hydration and hygiene are crucial for overall health and disease resistance.
Beyond water-borne illnesses, desertification contributes to increased dust storms, which have direct impacts on respiratory health. These storms, known as “haboobs,” carry fine particulate matter that can damage airways and worsen existing respiratory conditions. Prolonged exposure to dust and sand can contribute to air pollution that affects cardiovascular health and may exacerbate respiratory infections. Such environmental factors compound the health challenges faced by Sahelian populations.
Population Movement and Social Cohesion
Environmental degradation and resource scarcity driven by desertification compel significant population movement within and from the Sahel. As land becomes unproductive and water sources diminish, people are forced to abandon their homes in search of arable land, water, or economic opportunities. This leads to over 2.5 million people being internally displaced within the Sahel region by the end of 2020. Such movements place immense strain on the infrastructure and resources of host communities, which are often already struggling.
Competition over dwindling resources like fertile land and water can escalate existing tensions and contribute to local conflicts. For instance, conflicts between farming communities and nomadic herders over access to grazing lands and water sources have become more frequent and deadly. These clashes have resulted in significant fatalities and further destabilize the region. Extremist groups often exploit these resource-driven conflicts and the resulting instability to gain influence and recruit individuals.
The forced abandonment of ancestral lands also disrupts traditional community structures and social networks. Cultural practices tied to specific land uses or seasonal movements are altered or lost, impacting the social fabric of communities. While some migration occurs across borders, the majority of displacement remains internal or within the African continent, moving towards less affected areas or urban centers, further stressing urban capacities. This complex interplay of environmental, social, and security challenges creates a cycle of vulnerability for the people of the Sahel.