Sahel Region in July 2026: the most important developments in politics
In the Sahel in July 2026, the most discussed development was the possibility of US military action in Mali. On July 23, President Donald Trump was reportedly weighing military action there, according to unnamed sources. Separately, Mali claimed France plotted a coup in April, and Algeria reopened its airspace with Mali.
Relations between France and Burkina Faso broke down. Burkina Faso ordered French diplomats to leave by a Monday deadline, and on July 7 France withdrew all its diplomatic staff from Ouagadougou after weeks of escalating tensions.
In Senegal, the president formed a new political party, deepening a rift with the dismissed prime minister. On July 10, a hidden-debt scandal over undisclosed liabilities raised concerns about fiscal transparency and the country's infrastructure plans.
On July 23, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso confirmed a joint bid to co-host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations. A UN report detailed torture in Mali, and Chad conducted its third general population census in 17 years.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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