Economic Drivers of Great Power Rivalry in the Sahel Region in the Mid-2020s

Abstract

This paper examines the geopolitical situation of the Sahel region in contemporary times. The region’s wealth of natural resources, particularly its mineral deposits and fossil fuels, has made it an attractive target for major powers, including the United States, China, Russia, France, and other emerging states. The study highlights the economic drivers behind the competing great powers, analysing the distribution of key minerals in the region, such as gold and iron ore, as well as the climatic and societal challenges faced by the area. The paper concludes that the Sahel will remain an important arena for global economic and geopolitical competition in the coming decades, as the global demand for mineral resources and regional instability continue to intensify the presence of great powers.