West Africa: global terrorism hotspot

West Africa has become a global terrorism hotspot, with jihadist violence surging in the Sahel region, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, according to an analysis by Reuters. A recent attack on September 17 in Mali’s capital, Bamako, saw jihadis kill dozens of students and set the presidential jet on fire, marking the most audacious strike since 2016. Jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, once primarily rural, now threaten major cities and government power centers.

The rise in violence has caused mass displacement and contributed to a sharp increase in migration to Europe, with arrivals from Sahel countries rising 62% in the first half of 2024. Burkina Faso, the most affected, topped this year’s Global Terrorism Index, accounting for a quarter of all global terrorism deaths. Despite military coups in the region, security continues to deteriorate, fueling fears of the eventual emergence of jihadist states.