The African Sahel has long been a theater of influence struggles between Paris, Moscow, and Beijing. Today, a new player is stepping into the arena.
In N’Djamena, as in Bamako and Niamey, Israel is no longer a foreign name.
Security delegations, closed-door meetings, and growing talk of agricultural and technological projects all point to the Sahel becoming a new testing ground for Israel’s ambitions.
Israel long struggled to expand its presence in North Africa—aside from Egypt, which signed a peace treaty early on. The Abraham Accords of 2020 shifted the equation, giving Israel a new partner in Morocco, and opening the door to broader ventures across the continent.
The benefits for Israel go well beyond Arab normalization. They now extend into Sahel states rich in natural resources and governed by regimes eager for partners who can offer more than ideological rhetoric.
Chad is a case study in this new pragmatism.
After the death of President Idriss Déby and the rise of his son Mahamat Déby, signs of resumed ties with Israel multiplied. Analysts say the region’s new rulers are moving beyond slogans to ask a practical question: What do we gain from this partnership?
But Chad’s domestic scene is divided on the answer, especially with reports of foreign meddling—including alleged Mossad involvement in the power transition—fueling debate over the regime’s legitimacy and Israel’s role in shaping the landscape.
Sarah Yerkes, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says: “Israel’s presence in the Sahel is primarily security-driven. The surge in extremist violence in recent years poses a direct threat, as many of the groups active there have ties to actors like Hezbollah, who work against Israeli interests.”
She adds: “Israel amplifies these security challenges diplomatically to persuade local populations of the importance of normalization.”
But Intissar Fakir, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, sees priorities differently.
“I don’t think security cooperation is Israel’s main driver. I believe there are many other areas for stronger collaboration, especially economic and technological,” she says.
Reports indicate Israel has supplied some regional states with advanced weapons, supervised special forces training, and marketed surveillance systems—tying military cooperation to intelligence sharing on armed groups, some ideologically linked to Israel’s rivals such as Hezbollah.
Beyond security, Israel views the Sahel as a reservoir of resources and investment opportunities.
As early as 1957, Israel opened its first diplomatic mission in Africa. A year later, it established the “Center for International Cooperation,” a government body coordinating technical agreements with African states. By the 1960s, Israel had diplomatic ties with 33 African countries.
While precise figures on direct Israeli investment in the Sahel are lacking, Israeli reports suggest investments focus on sectors where Israel excels technologically: agricultural tech, water, renewable energy, health, cybersecurity, and defense.
“There are economic incentives,” Fakir notes. “Africa has enormous potential—resources, rare earth minerals—things highly relevant to Israeli industries.” Yerkes adds: “Israel has long-term development interests in the region. It is trying to export both its technologies and parts of its economy to the Sahel.”
But it’s not just about economy and security. Opening up to Africa is part of Israel’s broader strategy to break isolation.
“The core interest,” says Fakir, “is to gain broader acceptance beyond Western support. But progress will be difficult given the current situation in Gaza, which is being watched worldwide, highlighting Israel’s loss of popularity and mounting condemnation.”
Between security and economic ambitions, Israel seems determined to entrench itself in the Sahel. Yet the road ahead is tough: widespread sympathy for the Palestinian cause, fierce competition from entrenched powers, and fragile regimes juggling legitimacy with material gains.
In this corridor between desert and sea, Israel may find new opportunities—but it will also face hard questions about the limits of its influence and acceptance.
