January 28, 2025
M.A. María Luna Itriago
The Sahel, a semi-arid region acutely impacted by climate change, stretches across parts of Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea and northern Cameroon. This region is facing a dual crisis: the escalating effects of resource scarcity and food insecurity are exacerbating gendered vulnerabilities, especially among women and girls. These challenges create fertile ground for extremist groups such as Boko Haram, which primarily operates in Nigeria, but also in parts of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, to exploit these vulnerabilities. The result is the perpetuation of cycles of violence, radicalisation and gender inequality. The intersection of climate change, gendered vulnerabilities and extremist exploitation in the Sahel underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive, climate-resilient humanitarian interventions.
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