Terrorism in the Sahel is destabilising West Africa, with armed groups linked to al‑Qaeda and Islamic State exploiting deep poverty to recruit new fighters. In northern Benin, however, women’s cooperatives are turning to the shea tree to build economic opportunities – an initiative supported by Switzerland. The tree towers several metres above the women beneath it. In the midday heat, it provides shade for the group; in dark moments, it offers hope. The women call it “arbre réparateur”, the healing tree. Its leaves are used in traditional medicine. In the Sahel, the shea tree is said to possess magical properties. Hardly any other plant is so versatile. People make shea butter from the nuts of the shea tree’s fruit, which is used as cooking fat or for skincare, and is popular at home and abroad. The fat from its fruit helps to fill hungry stomachs and soothe chapped hands. And 3,600 women in northern Benin also want to use it to help heal rifts in society. They used to go out to ...
