The Great Green Wall initiative: A Transformative African-Led vision

The Sahel is a region of Africa that faces a great threat. The Sahel stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west of Africa to the Red Sea in the east. It borders the relentless Sahara desert to the north that encroaches upon fertile green lands. Desertification is caused when plants are removed and the soil is exposed. This is what is occurring in the Sahel and this could cause droughts as well as natural resource degradation. As desertification occurs people are forced to move to countries where they can find jobs and support their families. This has led to many refugees fleeing to neighbouring countries. It has also encouraged many to move to Europe in search of a better life. To prevent the expansion of the Sahara a remarkable initiative has taken to action ever since 2005 – then adopted by the African Union in 2007. The Great Green Wall aims to combat desertification and rejuvenate degraded landscapes. This project consists of an 8,000 km wall of acacia trees across 11 countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan). Acacia trees are especially important as they can grow in dry conditions. The project aims to stretch across the continent – all the way from Senegal to Djibouti. This green belt of trees and vegetation stands as a bulwark against the relentless advance of the Sahara. 

There are a multitude of benefits to this project. By reforesting and rehabilitating degraded land, the Great Green Wall aims to breathe life back into the Sahel and envisages a green belt that can sustain communities, wildlife and the ecosystem. As a consequence, the project aims to sequester 250 million tons of carbon by 2030. Trees and vegetation play a crucial role in absorbing greenhouse gases. This is important as it helps mitigate climate change. 

For locals this may create jobs. Along its path, the Great Green Wall promises to create 10 million green jobs by 2030. This will be a great benefit to local communities. All sorts of labour will be necessary such as people to plant the trees and others to arrange the transport of required resources. Generally – building onto the previous point – there will be economic prospects for those along its path. With jobs created and fertile land their livelihoods will be much improved. People will be able to sustain normal lives across the Green Wall rather than having to worry about the encroachment of the Sahara. As communities are preserved – or grow - along the Wall, improved land productivity will enhance food security for millions who face hunger daily. 

However, though the project has many promises it faces a plethora of threats as it is situated in regions that are subject to conflict. For example, the country of Sudan is currently in the midst of a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces as of April 2023. These sorts of conflicts will prevent much of the project’s potential as work will have to be halted. In such a region the logistics of putting forward the Great Green Wall project are tough. 

Overall, the Great Green Wall is a great vision with the capacity to transform the Sahel. It will greatly improve the prospects of people living in the Sahel by preventing desertification and will preserve the natural beauty of said region. However, time will tell as to whether this project will be successful given it faces the threats of regional conflict and logistical issues.