Nigeria, Jan. 21 -- The Sahel is one of the most challenged regions in the world, facing devastating multidimensional crises like famine, drought, insecurity, and extremism. The area, spanning from Senegal to Eritrea and nestled between the Sahara Desert to the north and the African tropics to the south, has had its multifaceted challenges greatly exacerbated by the emergence of violent extremist organisations.

These organisations thrive on the decline of central government institutions in the region. Emboldened by fleeting international counterterrorism support, non-state actors have held Sahel countries hostage, quite literally, threatening the long-term viability of the Westphalian concept of statehood in the affected countries.

Acco...