UNHCR Reports Near Doubling of Displaced Persons in Sahel Region Since 2020 Amid Funding Shortages
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued an alert regarding a significant increase in displaced persons across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The number of individuals displaced in these three Sahelian nations has almost doubled since 2020, reaching nearly 4 million people. This figure includes over 818,000 refugees and asylum seekers, with the remainder being internally displaced persons. According to Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, UNHCR Director for West and Central Africa, security incidents have nearly doubled since 2020, weakening state presence and increasing risks for both displaced and host communities. Despite the military governments in Mali (since 2020), Burkina Faso (since 2022), and Niger (since 2023) forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to combat jihadist and independentist groups, violence from armed groups and national armies continues to escalate, forcing more civilians to flee. The UNHCR highlights the case of Koro in Mali, which hosted 86,000 refugees from Burki...
