The World's on Fire

So there've been plenty of stories about the fires in the Amazon and Australia. And as bad as those are (some man made, the others not so much), there are the fires in northern Africa that I'm thinking about right now. 
See this map.  
Africa is much worse than anywhere. Now, some of this could be a seasonal burning of the grasslands and that's fine (and can be carbon neutral, apparently), but I was also wondering if this plays into the ever expanding Sahel? If so it can't be good. 
Online, it seems that the question isn't exactly answered. Some are saying the main thing is the Congo (and the rainforest) and the risk that the fires might spread there. We'll see. But I'm guessing the main thing is the ever expanding Sahara desert

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