The Sahel, “shore” in Arabic, is home to diverse ethnic groups, including the Fulani, Tuareg, Hausa, and Songhai. A long history of political and economic marginalization has created a sense of frustration and resentment, which has been exploited by jihadist groups to recruit fighters and gain support. The overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 led to the proliferation of weapons and the destabilization of neighboring countries, including Mali and Niger. This created a power vacuum that jihadist groups were able to exploit.