Sahel: the new global centre of terrorism

The Sahel region in Africa is now the global centre of terrorism, according  to a report by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI).

According to BBC News, the Sahel region – which includes countries like Mali, Niger, and Cameroon – now accounts for ” over half of all terrorism-related deaths” worldwide.

This has effectively made the region the “epicentre of global terrorism” due to unprecedented  levels of violence.

The main reason for this, as stated in the GTI report, is the mass expansion of militant jihadist groups that are actively trying to take control of the region.

Groups like IS-Sahel have nearly doubled their territory since 2020 in countries like Mali, while smaller groups such as JNIM have also started to expand

These groups, which fund their operations through drug trafficking and illegal gold mining, have encountered little resistance in their expansion efforts, mainly due to weak government opposition.

The Sahel region is sometimes referred to as the “coup belt”, as the recent waves of military coups has left most of its countries under the control of unstable military juntas.

According to Dr. Folahanmi Aina from the University of London, an expert on the region, the Sahel “has experienced a breakdown in state-society relations.” He notes that the lack of effective governance by the juntas is a key factor  in the collapse of law and order.

This sentiment aligns with the GTI report, which sates Burkina Faso, one of the countries currently run by a military junta” remained the country most affected by terrorism for a second  year in a row” in 2024

While the violence in the Sahel region is currently contained within its borders, there  are growing fears that it could spill over into neighbouring countries.

For example, Togo , which borders Burkina Faso, recorded at least 10 terrorist attacks and 2 deaths in 2024 – the highest the GTI has ever recorded in the country.

According to Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at a  geopolitical risk consultancy, the likelihood of these jihadist groups expanding into other countries in the region “seems imminent”

In any case, while fears of the conflict spreading further have yet to be confirmed, one thing is certain- for now, the Sahel remains the most dangerous place on Earth.

BBC News