This report provides an overview of religious freedom conditions in the Sahel region of Africa and highlights recent developments. The report evaluates the three countries of Sudan, Mali and Niger and discusses violent extremist groups, the fragility of governments, the presence of the armed forces in politics, and ethno-religious clashes in isolated areas. The report notes that the presence of the Wagner Group in the Sahel reduces direct Western influence on counterinsurgency operations there and reflects a new great power competition among non-African states vying to influence the region.