J.B. Russell Images

In the span of a few short decades the inhabitants of the Western Sahel transitioned from being predominantly nomadic pastoralists to a more sedentary way of life. While populations remain mobile, agriculture and livestock breeding activities have become the primary means of sustenance. Global warming and climate change induced drought, along with cheap food imports, have made agricultural livelihoods increasingly unsustainable for much of the population. This has caused rampant food insecurity, a rural exodus towards urban centers and abroad and has been a multiplying factor for violence and instability in the region.