Lagos: Africas Sahel region has become a focal point for terrorism activity, with significant implications for the neighboring coastal West African countries.
According to Deutsche Welle, the latest Global Terrorism Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace highlights that approximately 51% of global terror-related deaths now occur in the Sahel, driven by two groups linked to al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State.
The groups responsible for this surge in terrorism, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and the Islamic State, have orchestrated numerous attacks, particularly targeting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. These organizations are now expanding southward, threatening nations such as Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
In Benin, the threat is palpable, with frequent attacks on military outposts and civilians in northern border towns. A particularly devastating incident occurred in April 2025, when at least 54 soldiers were killed by JNIM militants along the border shared with Burkina Faso and Niger. Togo, too, has witnessed a rise in terror activities.
The strategic expansion of these groups to the coastal regions is attributed to several factors. The coastal corridor serves as a critical escape route for terror groups facing military offensives and is a vital trade artery crucial for European shipping lines. Moreover, the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, spanning Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, offers a “safe buffer” for terrorist activities and a zone for smuggling and other illicit economies.
Experts, like James Barnett from the Hudson Institute, suggest that groups like JNIM use these expansive forests as bases to launch cross-border attacks and further encircle Burkina Faso, while also tapping into illicit economic activities in the region.
The movement of Sahel-based terrorists into largely ungoverned spaces in West Africa has had a domino effect. According to Oluwole Ojewale from the Institute for Security Studies, these regions harbor strategic minerals and materials that have become sources of terrorism financing. Coastal countries’ northern regions, characterized by sparse populations and underdevelopment, are exploited by terror groups seeking recruits among frustrated youth.
The collapse of security cooperation between the Sahel and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has exacerbated the situation. The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger has led to mistrust, creating a gap that facilitates the spread of violence from the Sahel to the coast. Ojewale points out that inadequate cross-border intelligence hampers efforts to curb terrorist infiltration.
In response, individual coastal countries have launched security initiatives. For instance, Benin has deployed 3,000 soldiers along its borders to prevent incursions. Some coastal nations have also entered bilateral security agreements, as seen with Benin and Nigeria’s collaboration to enhance border security.
However, Barnett emphasizes that cooperation must extend beyond logistics and resources. Coastal and Sahel states need to overcome mistrust and improve intelligence sharing. Socioeconomic initiatives, alongside security measures, are critical. Côte d’Ivoire has implemented social projects to address poverty and youth unemployment, fostering trust between communities and the military.
Barnett underscores the importance of integrating communities into broader initiatives to tackle socioeconomic issues, rather than solely focusing on policing, to build trust and cooperation in combating terrorism.