Security is a sine qua non for development. The Sahel is a troubled region and is described as the hotbed of insecurity in Africa. This state of insecurity was compounded by the outbreak of Covid-19. This article examines the regional impact of the pandemic on insecurity and development. It uses a meta-analysis and reviews secondary data to underscore the security and development imbroglio in the Sahel within the context of Covid-19. It was found that Covid-19 exacerbated the insecurity threat in the region due to pre-existing weak governance, poor capacity, grievances and climate change, which had already resulted in fragility, food insecurity, displacement, loss of livelihood, poverty, unemployment, hunger and a humanitarian crisis. The study concludes that armed groups took advantage of the health crisis to prolong conflicts which, coupled with the pre-existing economic conditions, became anathema to development. The article recommends that governments in the region should increase their health budget and enhance their capacity to respond to health emergencies such as the Covid-19 outbreak. The article further recommends that governments in the Sahelian states should prioritise good governance, improved security and regional cooperation to combat poverty.

None Tope Shola Akinyetun

Africa Development

Africa Development (ISSN 0850 3907) is the quarterly bilingual journal of CODESRIA published since 1976. It is a social science journal whose major focus is on issues which are central to the development of society.    Its principal objective is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among African scholars from a variety of intellectual persuasions and various disciplines. The journal also encourages other contributors working on Africa or those undertaking comparative analysis of developing world issues.    Africa Development welcomes contributions which cut across disciplinary boundaries. Articles with a narrow focus and incomprehensible to people outside their discipline are unlikely to be accepted.

Africa Development/Afrique et Developpement is the bilingual quarterly journal of CODESRIA, published since 1976 (ISSN 0850-3907). This social science journal primarily focuses on issues central to societal development. Its main objective is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among African scholars from various intellectual backgrounds and disciplines. The journal also encourages contributions from those working on Africa or conducting comparative analyses of issues in the developing world. Africa Development/Afrique et Developpement welcomes interdisciplinary contributions, while articles with a narrow focus that are incomprehensible to those outside their discipline are unlikely to be accepted.

《Africa Development/Afrique et Developpement》是CODESRIA自1976年起出版的双语季刊（ISSN 0850 3907）。该期刊专注于社会科学，主要关注与社会发展相关的重要议题。期刊的主要目标是为来自不同学科和思想流派的非洲学者提供一个交流思想的平台。同时，期刊也鼓励其他研究非洲或进行发展中国家问题比较分析的贡献者投稿。《Africa Development/Afrique et Developpement》欢迎跨学科的研究成果，狭隘且难以为外部学科人士理解的文章不太可能被接受。

From Epidemic to Pandemic: Covid-19, Insecurity and Development in the Sahel

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