There are conflicts between nomads and settled village dwellers, as nomads are forced to move their herds north after the first rains of the season but often have no pastures ready in the north. There are steps being taken to combat desertification in the Sahel, most notably by the Eden Foundation, but also by other groups.
The authorized travel days are calculated using 350 miles/day (based on the DTOD distance between the authorized points) for an employee or member. 1 travel day is allowed for each 350 miles of official distance of ordered travel.
How far to book in advance: Seven weeks for domestic flights. Book 11 to 12 weeks out for international flights. The worst day to buy: Within 11 days of your flight. One day before the flight was the absolute worst. The best fares for Thanksgiving: For Thanksgiving 2012, the best day to buy was, on average, 96 days (about 14 weeks) before the flight. The bottom line: Do your homework before booking any flight, and make sure you've got the right tools to set yourself up for the best fares.