The Sahel Untold

The Sahel Untold shares life stories and personal experiences of people from the Sahel—a region often described as fragile and facing a diverse set of challenges, including climate change, poverty and the presence of extremist groups. By bringing voices from conflict-affected borderlands in the Greater Sahel directly into international policy conversations, we seek to bridge the gap between global policy and local reality.

This podcast was developed within the framework of a joint project by the African Union (AU), the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and bicc – Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies. This project is generously funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

The podcast is narrated by Claudia Breitung and Milena Berks. Many additional hands supported this project—both within the bicc project team and, even more importantly, through our local partners working on the ground in the Sahelian countries.

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Le “Sahel Untold” partage les récits de vie et les expériences personnelles de personnes originaires du Sahel, une région souvent décrite comme fragile et confrontée à divers défis, notamment le changement climatique, la pauvreté et la présence de groupes extrémistes. En intégrant directement les voix des personnes vivant dans les zones frontalières touchées par les conflits dans le Grand Sahel aux débats politiques internationaux, nous cherchons à combler le fossé entre la politique globale et la réalité locale.

Ce podcast a été développé dans le cadre d'un projet conjoint de l'Union africaine (UA), du Département des opérations de paix des Nations unies (DPO) et du bicc – Centre international pour les études de conflits à Bonn. Ce projet est généreusement financé par le ministère fédéral allemand des Affaires étrangères.

Le podcast est narré par Claudia Breitung et Milena Berks. De nombreuses autres personnes ont contribué à ce projet, tant au sein de l'équipe du projet bicc que, surtout, parmi nos partenaires locaux travaillant sur le terrain dans les pays du Sahel.

The Sahel Untold

Latest episodes

The Thief Who Wasn't

The Thief Who Wasn't

‧ 29m 41s

What happens when your very identity is politicised, and the world decides who you are before you even speak?

In this gripping episode, we explore the complex and volatile conflict in Northwest Nigeria through the eyes of Usman, a Fulani man caught in the crossfire of the state, insurgent groups, and deep-seated societal stigma.

Once living a carefree life as a traditional herdsman, Usman’s world was shattered forever when armed violence tore through his community. Trapped in a landscape where ethnic identity is weaponised, he spent a year innocently behind bars—collectively blamed for banditry and extremism.

Listen now to hear...

A Difficult Choice

A Difficult Choice

‧ 45m 25s

In this episode, we meet Said, a young man from Chad, who decided to make a difference for his country. Having studied and lived abroad for many years, he co-founded the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Water4Chad, whose core mission is to provide sustainable access to clean water for communities across Chad. Half of this vast country covering 1.28 million square kilometres is desert. Chad has been severely hit by climate change, political turmoil and insecurity.
Through Said’s journey, his struggles and his successes, we learn about destiny, courage, responsibility and what home means—and how to be resilient in extremely challenging environments,...

The Wife

The Wife

‧ 43m 54s

In this episode, we hear the powerful, personal stories of Zeinab and Fatima—women whose lives were changed forever by Boko Haram, the notorious jihadist group operating in the Lake Chad Basin. Zeinab shares her harrowing abduction and how she was forced to become a stranger’s wife, while Fatima recounts the day she was taken from a farm, forced into multiple marriages, and ultimately branded ‘cursed’ — condemned to become a suicide bomber.
Through their stories, we explore the gendered dimensions of armed conflict in northern Nigeria: the socio-cultural and economic inequalities women face, the brutal reality of abductions like those...

Stitching Wounds

Stitching Wounds

‧ 42m 43s

In this premiere episode of The Sahel Untold, we meet Bouba, a man from Maiduguri, a town in northern Nigeria, whose life took an unexpected turn. Once dreaming of becoming a doctor, Bouba found himself deep in the Sambisa Forest, tending to the wounds of Boko Haram fighters. He shares his story—how he was drawn into the notorious jihadist group, what life was like as a fighter and the path that ultimately led him to leave. A gripping, human story that sheds light on the untold realities behind one of West Africa’s most infamous conflicts.

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Dans ce premier épisode...