SAHEL

As leaders of the Sahel convened in Chad’s capital N’djamena to discuss flaring jihadist violence, Chadian President Deby announced the deployment of an additional 1,200 soldiers to the border zone betwen Niger, Mali and Burkino Faso. French President Macron also ruled out a withdrawal of forces despite dwindling domestic support for French operations in the region. Crisis Group expert Hannah Armstrong says one year after France stepped up its military presence in the region, it is as clear as ever that conventional military engagement has failed to deliver a knockout blow to armed jihadist groups. Chad’s deployment may help shore up tactical victories, but a strategic reorientation is overdue.

SUDAN

Protests erupted in several regions over rapidly deteriorating living conditions, including rising prices of staple foods. Looting and arson attacks led seven regions, including Darfur, North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Sennar, to declare states of emergency. Crisis Group expert Jonas Horner says the protests should spur the new finance minister and newly reshuffled government to address the structural drivers of Sudan’s economic malaise through badly needed exchange rate and subsidy reforms, while communicating and explaining more clearly those reforms and their impacts.

YEMEN

The Huthis continued their military advance toward Marib city, the internationally recognised government’s last stronghold in the north. Fighting reportedly killed hundreds while the Huthis also stepped up cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia. Crisis Group expert Peter Salisbury says a battle for Marib city and its environs would have dramatic humanitarian consequences for the people who live there, including several hundred thousand displaced from other parts of Yemen. While it would in effect end the war for Yemen’s north, it could spark new violence on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and in its southern governorates. The U.S. and other international actors should direct their efforts toward an immediate ceasefire, and build on that to bring an end to the overall war.