The Sahel region in Africa has become a focal point for global terrorism, accounting for more than half of all terrorism-related fatalities for the first time, as reported by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI).
According to the latest GTI report, 3,885 individuals lost their lives in this semi-arid region south of the Sahara Desert, out of a total of 7,555 deaths worldwide.
While the global terrorism figures have decreased since reaching a peak of 11,000 in 2015, the numbers in the Sahel have surged nearly tenfold since 2019, with extremist and insurgent groups increasingly targeting the area.
The GTI, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, defines terrorism as the use of illegal force and violence by non-state actors to achieve political, economic, religious, or social objectives through fear and intimidation.
Encompassing parts of ten countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Guinea, The Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria, Chad, and Mauritania, the Sahel is marked by high birth rates, with a significant portion of the population under the age of 25.
In contrast to the rise of lone actor terrorism in the West, the Sahel has witnessed a rapid expansion of militant jihadist groups, primarily attributed to the Islamic State affiliate and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), an al-Qaeda offshoot.
These groups aim to establish new legal systems and administer justice based on Sharia law, leading to competition for power and territory, as explained by Niagalé Bagayoko from the African Security Sector Network.
The report highlights that IS-Sahel has extended its territorial control in Mali following the country’s recent political upheavals, while JNIM has also expanded its influence, recruiting additional fighters, including child soldiers.
Political instability and governance challenges in the region have created favorable conditions for insurgent groups to thrive, with conflict identified as a key driver of terrorism.
Referred to as the “coup belt” of Africa, the Sahel has seen a spate of military takeovers since 2020, with six successful coups reported, leading to military rule in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger.
This breakdown in governance and societal structures has allowed terror groups to exploit local grievances, emphasizing the urgent need for people-centric leadership and governance, according to experts.
In recent years, governments in the Sahel region have grappled with escalating security threats posed by insurgent groups, with limited success in combating the growing menace. Despite the rise of military juntas in certain areas, the situation on the ground remains precarious, with Dr. Aina highlighting a lack of governance preparedness among the ruling entities. “The juntas have not managed to instill a sense of security and stability, leading to a worsening of the overall insecurity,” noted Dr. Aina.
Burkina Faso, in particular, has found itself at the epicenter of terrorism for the second consecutive year, as reported by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) of 2024. The country stands out as the only non-Iraq or Afghanistan entity to claim the top spot in the GTI rankings over the past 14 years, underscoring the severity of the crisis in the region.
Jihadist groups operating in the Sahel have sustained their activities through a variety of illicit means, including kidnap-for-ransom schemes and cattle rustling, as outlined in the GTI report. Moreover, the region has become a crucial transit route for drug traffickers transporting cocaine from South America to Europe. The lucrative nature of drug trafficking has further exacerbated the terrorist activities in the Sahel, with the report emphasizing the financial interconnections between terrorism and illicit drug trade.
Some insurgent factions have opted for more subtle ways of generating revenue, such as imposing taxes or offering security services in exchange for payments. This strategy not only provides a steady income stream for these groups but also helps them integrate into local communities, bolstering their influence and power dynamics within the region.
The competition for control over the Sahel’s abundant natural resources has added another layer of complexity to the security landscape. Niger’s significant uranium reserves and the unregulated artisanal gold mines scattered across the region have become prime targets for militant groups like IS-Sahel and JNIM, seeking to exploit these valuable assets for their own gains.
Following a spate of coups in the region, Sahel governments have shifted their alliances away from traditional Western partners towards countries like China and Russia for support in combating the rising militancy. The emergence of the “Africa Corps” led by Russian paramilitaries, formerly known as Wagner, signals a new approach to tackling the insurgency in the Sahel. However, the effectiveness of this strategy remains uncertain, according to Ms. Ochieng, who notes that the current efforts have yet to yield significant results.
The GTI report warns of a potential spillover effect of the ongoing insecurity beyond the epicenter of terror, with neighboring countries facing an increasing risk of attacks. Togo, for instance, experienced a surge in violent incidents in 2024, with 10 attacks and 52 fatalities reported – the highest since the inception of the index. These attacks were concentrated along the Togolese border with Burkina Faso, highlighting the regional nature of the security threats.
