Militants escalate violence in Sahel,threatening coastal West African nations,warns report

Militant Islamist violence continues to escalate in the Sahel,shifting southward and westward to increasingly threaten security of coastal West African nations,according to a new report by Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS).

Countries like Mali,Burkina Faso,and Niger remain at the epicenter of this violent surge,with fatalities and militant activity hitting unprecedented levels,says the report entitled ‘The Shifting Front of Militant Islamist Violence in the Sahel’. In 2024,the Sahel accounted for over half of all militant Islamist fatalities in Africa,reflecting a deepening crisis. The violence,primarily led by groups like Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS),has intensified in regions such as central Mali,northern Burkina Faso,and western Niger. These groups are not only solidifying their control over critical territories but also expanding into new areas,impacting coastal countries such as Benin,Togo,and Ghana. Militants exploit local grievances and economic struggles,particularly targeting Fulani pastoralists to expand their ranks.

The report by the Washington-based think tank warns that the situation in these areas is dire. In southern Mali,where much of the country’s agriculture and gold mining take place,militant attacks are causing significant disruption,further exacerbating the country’s fragile security. Meanwhile,in Niger and Burkina Faso,the escalation has led to a notable increase in fatalities,particularly near the borders with Mali and Niger. The spread of violence from the Sahel into the coastal regions poses a growing threat to regional stability. With militant groups targeting vital trade routes and exploiting smuggling networks,the need for enhanced security and cooperation between affected nations is urgent to curb this violent expansion.