Elusive Peace and the Impact of Ungoverned Space in the Sahel Conflict

The Sahel region has become synonymous with violence over the last three decades. Poverty, rapid population growth, food insecurity, climate change, human trafficking, migration, and poor governance have dominated the literature on the causes of instability in a region also referred to as ‘the corridor of conflict. Of concern has been the rapid increase in terror-related attacks as well as violent extremism. According to the Global Terrorism Index ranking, Mali, Niger, and Chad, as well as the neighboring Libya and Nigeria, are among the top 30 countries affected by terrorism. This paper seeks to examine the instability in the Sahel through the ungoverned space theory lenses. It interogates the evolution of the crisis, and the relationship between the ungoverned spaces in the region and the unending conflict. It argues that years of systematic marginalization and ineffective administration have created pockets of ungoverned territories which are being exploited by armed groups. Based on the findings, this paper recommends a multidimensional approach that combines military, social and economic reforms, as well as inclusivity in proportional means to achieve peace and stability in the region