Academics routinely use the term “sub-Saharan Africa”. Until recently, I also used it without really thinking much about it or questioning its use. But it’s problematic and should be avoided. Here are two excellent pieces explaining why:

It’s confusing and geographically inaccurate:

"46 of Africa’s 54 countries are listed as “sub-Saharan,” excluding Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan & Tunisia. This doesn’t make geographical sense: 4 countries included are on the Sahara, while Eritrea is “sub-Saharan”, but its neighbour Djibouti isn’t.”

It’s rooted in racist thought:

“it divides Africa according to white ideas of race making North Africans white enough to be considered for their glories, but not really white enough…It is a way of saying “Black Africa” and talk about black Africans without sounding overtly racist.”