“Iran could make itself known and felt in North Africa,” she added, pointing in particular to the Sahel as a key area to watch. Security repercussions are not immediately felt in the most exposed North African countries, where the impact remains largely economic for now. In this reading, Sudan emerges as a critical node in a broader arc of instability stretching from the Red Sea to the Sahel. Karim Mezran, director of the North Africa Initiative at the Atlantic Council, introduced an additional layer of complexity: the potential role of Russia. In this sense, North Africa and the Sahel are no longer peripheral to the conflict: they are becoming integral to an increasingly expansive and interconnected strategic geography.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 26, 2026 15:01 UTC