As one of Africa’s least governed spaces, the Sahel region offers militant groups the advantage of operating with relative ease. Last year’s civil war in Libya, resulting in the demise of the Qadhafi regime, has exacerbated this long-standing problem. With a gaping power vacuum across the region, terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and regional rebel and criminal groups have the opportunity to expand their influence. This poses significant security concerns not only for the region but also for the United States. Join us as our panelists discuss of the implications the crisis in the Sahel has on U.S. foreign policy.
More About the Speakers
Alexis Arieff
Analyst in African Affairs, Congressional Research Service
J. Peter Pham, Ph.D.
Director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, Atlantic Council
Manoela Borges
Desk Officer for Mauritania and Mali, Department of State James Phillips
Senior Research Fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation
Hosted By
Morgan Lorraine Roach
Research Associate
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