The Sahel region of Africa has become the new epicentre of global terrorism, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI). For the first time, the region accounted for more than half of all terrorism-related deaths globally. Out of 7,555 terrorism-related deaths worldwide, 3,885 deaths occurred in the Sahel. This shows a major geographical shift of terrorism from earlier hotspots such as West Asia towards West and Central Africa.
The Sahel is in news because the Global Terrorism Index reported that terrorism-related deaths in the region have increased nearly tenfold since 2019. The region has witnessed rapid expansion of militant jihadist groups, especially the Islamic State affiliate in the Sahel and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), an al-Qaeda branch.
The Sahel is a semi-arid belt located south of the Sahara Desert. As per the GTI definition, it includes parts of 10 countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Guinea, The Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria, Chad and Mauritania.The region has some of the world’s highest birth rates, and nearly two-thirds of its population is under 25, making youth vulnerability an important security concern.
| Group | Linkage | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| IS-Sahel | Islamic State affiliate | Expanded territorial control, especially in Mali |
| JNIM | Al-Qaeda branch | Expanding influence and seeking local authority |
| Other insurgent groups | Local and transnational networks | Active in weakly governed areas |
These groups are not only conducting attacks but are also trying to create new legal orders, administer justice based on Sharia, and compete for land and influence.
The rise of terrorism in the Sahel is linked to political instability, weak governance, conflict, poverty and local grievances. The GTI report identifies conflict as the primary driver of terrorism.The Sahel is also called Africa’s “coup belt”. Since 2020, there have been six successful coups in the GTI-defined Sahel region: two in Mali, two in Burkina Faso, one in Guinea and one in Niger. These countries are now ruled by military juntas.Although these juntas came to power claiming that civilian governments had failed to handle insurgency, the security situation has not improved. In fact, insecurity has worsened in many areas.
In 2024, Burkina Faso remained the country most affected by terrorism for the second consecutive year. According to the article, in the 14-year history of the GTI, Burkina Faso is the only country other than Iraq or Afghanistan to top the list.
Jihadist groups sustain themselves through several illicit economic activities:
| Source of Funding | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Kidnapping for ransom | Used to raise funds |
| Cattle rustling | Common in rural conflict zones |
| Drug trafficking | Sahel is a cocaine transit route from South America to Europe |
| Illegal taxation | Groups impose taxes on local populations |
| Protection payments | Militants offer “security” in exchange for money |
| Illegal gold mining | Unregulated mines are exploited by groups |
The report notes that drug trafficking has become one of the most financially lucrative activities linked to terrorism in the Sahel.
The Sahel is rich in natural resources. Niger is the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium, while unregulated artisanal gold mines across the region are exploited by groups such as IS-Sahel and JNIM.This shows that terrorism in the region is not only ideological but also linked to control over resources, illegal revenue and territory.
After recent coups, Sahel governments have moved away from traditional Western partners such as France and the United States and have shifted towards Russia and China for support.The article mentions Africa Corps, formerly known as Wagner, which supports local armies in counter-insurgency operations. However, experts suggest that this support has not yet proved effective.
The GTI warns that terrorism may spill over from the Sahel into neighbouring coastal West African countries. This process may already be visible.For example, Togo recorded 10 attacks and 52 deaths in 2024, the highest since the index began. These attacks were mainly concentrated along the border with Burkina Faso.Countries such as Benin, Togo and other coastal West African states may face increasing militant expansion.
The Sahel crisis represents a combination of terrorism, weak governance, demographic pressure, military coups, illegal economies and geopolitical competition. The region’s young population, fragile states and resource-rich but poorly governed areas provide ideal conditions for extremist expansion.The failure of both civilian governments and military juntas to deliver security has allowed groups like IS-Sahel and JNIM to expand their territorial and social influence. The crisis also shows that terrorism cannot be addressed only through military means; it requires people-centred governance, local grievance redressal, economic opportunities and regional cooperation.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Report | Global Terrorism Index |
| Published by | Institute for Economics and Peace |
| Nature | Think tank researching global peace and conflict |
| Key Finding | Sahel accounts for over half of global terrorism-related deaths |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | South of Sahara Desert |
| Nature | Semi-arid region |
| Countries mentioned in GTI definition | Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Guinea, The Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria, Chad, Mauritania |
| Major issue | Terrorism, coups, weak governance and insurgency |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen |
| Linkage | Al-Qaeda branch |
| Area | Sahel region |
| Objective | Expansion of influence and Sharia-based order |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Linkage | Islamic State affiliate |
| Area | Sahel region |
| Activity | Territorial control, recruitment and insurgency |
Updated – 05 March 2025 | News Source – BBC News