Sahel Map: Live Conflict Map & Key Locations
A satellite map of the Sahel conflict — Bamako, Timbuktu and Gao — plotting key locations with coordinates and descriptions.
Open the full Sahel tracker →Current situation
The Sahel insurgency is a transnational jihadist conflict concentrated in the tri-border area of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, driven principally by JNIM (al-Qaeda-aligned) and the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISGS). Armed groups operate across porous national borders rather than within them.
Key actors: JNIM — the al-Qaeda-aligned coalition of Sahelian armed groups. Islamic State Sahel Province (ISGS) — the rival Islamic State affiliate. National armies and juntas — the militaries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Civilian population — communities facing displacement, blockades, and violence across the tri-border region.
What's at stake: Regional spillover — expansion toward coastal West African states. Humanitarian crisis — mass displacement, blockaded towns, and food insecurity. State authority — contested governance and a wave of military coups. External realignment — shifting foreign security partnerships in the region.
Sahel conflict map — key locations
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Bamakocity12.6392, -8.0029
Capital of Mali and seat of the military government that has led the country since a series of coups beginning in 2020.
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Timbuktucity16.7666, -3.0026
Historic northern Mali city that was blockaded by JNIM militants in 2023, cutting off fuel and food supplies to the population.
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Gaocity16.2666, -0.0500
Major city in northern Mali on the Niger River, a longtime hub for French, UN, and now Russian military operations in the region.
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Niameycity13.5137, 2.1098
Capital of Niger and seat of the military government installed by the 2023 coup that ended Western security cooperation with France and the United States.
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Ouagadougoucity12.3714, -1.5197
Capital of Burkina Faso and seat of the military government that has governed the country since the 2022 coups.
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Liptako-Gourma borderlandsborder14.9000, 0.5000
Tri-border region where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger meet, the epicenter of the JNIM and Islamic State Sahel Province insurgencies and a large share of global terrorism-related deaths.
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Markoyecity14.9333, 0.0667
Northern Burkina Faso town near the Malian and Nigerien borders that has repeatedly been the site of attacks attributed to Islamic State Sahel Province.
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Diffaborder13.3154, 12.6113
Southeastern Niger city near Lake Chad and the Nigerian border, at the intersection of the Sahel insurgency and the Boko Haram/ISWAP conflict.
Where to go for the full picture
This map page is a fast, visual companion. The 8 locations plotted above (0 with a sourced, dated control status) are the same ones listed under the map heading, colour-keyed to match their pin. For the complete profile — actors, conflict type, intensity, timeline, and continuously updated headlines — see the Sahel deep-dive briefing · Full Sahel conflict tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a live map of the Sahel conflict?
Yes. This page plots 8 key locations for the Sahel conflict on a satellite map, covering the areas most frequently searched for. Coordinates and descriptions are listed below the map for anyone whose browser cannot load the interactive layer; none of these locations currently carry a sourced control-status claim.
How current is the control status shown here?
Every control claim on this page shows the source it came from and the date it was current as of, directly beneath the location it describes. Locations without a listed control status are shown for geographic reference only, without an unsourced control claim.
Where can I read the full Sahel conflict briefing?
See the Full Sahel conflict tracker for the complete profile, or the Sahel deep-dive briefing for deeper analysis.
Source provenance
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-08-05
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-05 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |