SIG Sahel

Bi-monthly bulletin on information monitoring and alerts on the conditions of pastoral and agro-pastoral households – July-August 2023

Biomass production globally close to normal in the Sahelian zone of West Africa
Biomass production higher than normal in the southwest of Mauritania, extending to the northern border of Senegal and the central Sahel region and in Burkina Faso
Very low biomass production in the northern limit of the Sahelian belt
Very low biomass production in the Lake Chad basin area
Negative biomass production anomalies along the coastal countries, particularly in Benin
High vulnerability in the northern border of the Sahel
Security issues severely hinder the mobility of herds and access to pastures and water resources in the Central Sahel. This is in addition to mobility restrictions towards the coastal countries, especially Benin and Togo

Biomass production generally close to normal in the Sahel region of West Africa
Above-normal biomass production in southwest Mauritania, along the northern border of Senegal and the three-border region, and in Burkina Faso
Very low biomass production on the northern edge of the Sahelian strip
Very low biomass production in the Lake Chad basin
Negative biomass production anomalies in coastal countries, particularly in Benin
High vulnerability in the northern border strip of the Sahel
Security context severely hampering the mobility of herds and access to pastures and water resources in the Central Sahel, which adds to restrictions on mobility towards coastal countries, particularly towards Benin and Togo

Faible production de biomasse en zone sahélienne et bonne en zone soudanaise
Best biomass production recorded in Chari Baguirmi, Guéra, south-east of Hadjer Lamis and the province of Salamat
Biomass production deficit across the entire Sahelian strip from Kanem in the west to the two Enedi in the east on the border with Sudan
Pastoral lean season 2023/2024 early and difficult for livestock
Prospect of an early and difficult pastoral lean season in 2024 with increased transhumance movements towards the southern provinces and neighbouring countries Cameroon and the Central African Republic
Possibility of conflicts related to resource sharing during transhumance
Locust invasion in crops and part of the pastures of the western Sahel provinces
Fragile security context accentuated by the Sudanese crisis which impacts the eastern provinces of the country

Rainy season generally close to normal in Senegal
Normal to slightly deficient biomass production across the whole of Senegal
Good biomass production on the northern edge of the country, particularly in Podor
Locally deficient biomass production in the livestock reception sites of Tambacounda and Kaffrine
Biomass production down compared to 2022
Increased vulnerability compared to 2022, especially in the Louga and Diourbel regions

Rainy season generally unfavorable to the regeneration of pastoral resources in the Niger
Average to deficient biomass production across the majority of the pastoral strip
Biomass production is generally in deficit in the Diffa region, in the south-eastern areas of Tillabéri (Abala, Filingué, Ouallam) and north of Tahoua (Tassara, Tillia, Tchinta); in Agadez (Ingal and Aderbissinat); north of Zinder (Tesker and Tanout), north of the Maradi region (Dakoro and Bermo)
Exposure to vulnerability of the far north of the pastoral belt of the regions of Tahoua, Zinder, the Diffa region as well as the pastoral areas of Agadez
Animal mobility disrupted by insecurity, particularly in the regions of Tillabéri, northern Tahoua, southern Maradi and Diffa, to which are added recurring thefts of herds.
Difficult economic context in the face of an agro-pastoral lean season made more difficult by soaring food prices
Difficult economic context aggravated by the effects of the series of sanctions following the coup d’état of July 26, 2023

Rainfall figures generally close to the average in Mauritania
Rainfall breaks recorded in the Wilayas of Gorgol, Guidimakha and 2 Hodh (El Chargui and Gargi)
Good to very good biomass production in the west and the center-southwest of the country (Moughataa of Trarza, Keur Macène, Méderdra, R’kiz in the Wilaya of Trarza and Moudjeria and Tichit in Tagant)
Slightly negative biomass production in the center of Hodh El Gharbi in the north of Tagant
Biomass production deficit in the northern and eastern parts of Hodh Ech Chargui, Tagant, Inchiri and Nouadhibou
Prospects of an early and difficult lean season, particularly in eastern Mauritania

Démarrage précoce de la saison des pluies avec une mauvaise répartition dans le temps et l’espace
Insufficient biomass production in the northern part of the country
Slight deficit in biomass production in the localities of Nara, Kayes and Ménaka
Slight surplus of biomass production in the central regions of Mopti and Ségou
Increase in security incidents in the regions of Ménaka, Gao, Timbuktu and Mopti
Mobility hindered in central and northern regions by armed groups
Difficult humanitarian access in the northern part of the country
Food and fuel prices soar
Imposition of blockades on main roads and continued disruption of economic activities in the northern part of Mali

Rainy season generally positive but also marked by floods
Biomass production above normal at national level
Biomass production above normal across the entire pastoral zone and in the regions hosting transhumant herds: La Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Southwest
Difficult security context, particularly in pastoral areas, limiting access to resources and markets
Difficult economic context due to the security context limiting the movement of Burkinabé breeders to border countries such as Togo and Benin