From continental isolation to networks of connectivity: the geohistory and geopolitics of the Sahel’s opening up

Abstract

All too often confined by a restrictive logic centred on geographical isolation, dependencies and marginalisation attributed to its insularity, the Sahel has struggled to break free from this paralysing trap despite more than six decades of independence. This article has a twofold objective: to analyse the Sahel’s opening up as a geo-historical construct, and then as a fundamentally geopolitical process of regional reconfiguration. The analysis, however, raises a key question: how can this opening up transcend geographical constraints to become a lever for territorial ownership and sovereignty? Building on this, the study is structured around the central hypothesis that the opening up of the Sahel cannot be reduced to a purely technical or physical perspective, but requires a systemic approach combining the development-security nexus, the restoration of the rule of law in its sovereign role, and the implementation of inclusive policies for marginalised hinterlands. Drawing on a systemic approach that draws upon several disciplinary fields, including, amongst others, geohistory, the geography of logistics corridors and geopolitics, this article traces the dynamic trajectory of the medieval Sahel and its powerful empires, right up to its current status as a peripheral region. It then examines the development of the region’s transnational corridors, before highlighting the geopolitical realignments against the backdrop of resurgent rivalries between regional and international actors. The conclusions demonstrate that the multiplicity of connectivity links helps to reduce certain dependencies on coastal transit countries, without, however, eliminating all the corresponding vulnerabilities relating to insecurity, political stability and the impoverishment of populations.