Sahel Region

Sahel is one of 13 regions into which the West African state of Burkina Faso is administratively divided. The capital is Dori. Located in the north, the region includes the provinces of Oudalan, Séno, Soum and Yagha, which are divided into a total of 26 departments.

The region is located in the north of Burkina Faso in the Sahel region and covers 36,166 km². The climate is tropical-oceanic humid with a shorter rainy season than the rest of the country. Briar savanna vegetation is sparse and almost completely absent in the semi-deserts of the extreme north. A large part of the province belongs to the Réserve sylvo-pastorale et partielle de faune du Sahel, the largest protected area in Burkina Faso.

The region, created in 2001, has 808,928 inhabitants (January 2006). The predominant ethnic groups are Tuareg, Fulbe and Bella.

Catholics make up only about 1% of the population in the Sahel region. The diocese of Dori is responsible for them.

The governor is Bila Dipama.

The population lives mainly from agricultural activities, Tuareg and Fulbe are known as cattle breeders.

In the cultural sphere, the arts and crafts skills of the Tuareg are particularly noteworthy.