Abidjan: Africa’s Sahel region has emerged as a significant global terrorism hot spot, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. About 51% of global terror-related deaths are recorded in this region, where two al-Qaeda-linked groups are increasing their influence.
According to Deutsche Welle, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and the so-called Islamic State groups are primarily responsible for the wave of terror in the Sahel, particularly affecting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. These groups are now expanding southward, infiltrating coastal nations such as Benin, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
In Benin’s northern border towns, military outposts and civilians face constant threats of attacks. In April 2025, JNIM militants killed at least 54 soldiers at the border shared with Burkina Faso and Niger. Togo has also experienced a similar increase in terror attacks.
The long stretch of coastal West Africa serves as a corridor for terror groups to escape military offensives, acting as a crucial trade route and gateway into landlocked countries, and a key point for European shipping lines. The W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, consisting of protected lands and parks, offers a “safe buffer” for terrorists and facilitates smuggling and other illicit activities.
Groups like JNIM are entrenched in the forests along the Benin-Niger border, launching attacks from these territories. James Barnett, a research fellow at Hudson Institute, explained to DW that JNIM’s activities in Benin are tied to operations in Burkina Faso, aiming to expand and encircle the region further. Terror groups are also tapping into illicit economies and recruiting in these regions.
In recent years, Sahel-based terrorists have moved southwards into largely ungoverned spaces in West Africa. According to Oluwole Ojewale from the Dakar-based Institute for Security Studies, these areas harbor strategic minerals and materials, like timber, which finance terrorism across the corridor.
The northern regions of many coastal countries in the area are sparsely populated and underdeveloped, making them attractive targets for recruitment by terror groups. The collapse of security cooperation between the Sahel and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger has created a gap, facilitating the spillover of violence from the Sahel to the coast.
A wave of initiatives by individual coastal countries has led to the deployment of security forces to control borders in their fragile northern territories. Benin has positioned around 3,000 soldiers along its border with Burkina Faso and Chad to prevent incursions. Some coastal countries have also entered bilateral security agreements, such as the one between Benin and Nigeria to enhance border security.
Barnett emphasized that resources and logistics alone are insufficient to curb the spread of terrorism. Coastal and Sahel states must overcome mistrust and share intelligence, considering the varying threats across Africa. Building trust and political will to work together is vital.
Incorporating socioeconomic initiatives alongside security responses is crucial. Cote d’Ivoire has implemented social projects to alleviate poverty and youth unemployment while fostering trust between the military and communities. Barnett highlighted the importance of the state’s role beyond sporadic policing, emphasizing the need to address socioeconomic concerns and partner with communities.