The region with more ‘terrorist deaths’ than the rest of the combined world

The Sahel region of Africa is the “epicenter of global terrorism” and now, for the first time, it represents “more than half of all deaths related to terrorism,” according to the global terrorism index (GTI).

His new report says that in this semi -arid area south of the Sahara desert, 3,885 people from a world total of 7,555 died.

The GTI report adds that although the global figure has decreased from a peak of 11,000 in 2015, the figure for the SAHEL has increased almost ten times since 2019, as extremist and insurgent groups “continue to change their approach” towards the region.

The index is published by the Institute of Economy and Peace, a group of experts dedicated to investigating global peace and conflict.

Defines terrorism as “threatened or real use of illegal force and violence by a non -state actor to achieve a political, economic, religious or social objective through fear, coercion or intimidation.”

The Sahel extends from the west coast of Africa to the east through the continent. The definition of the GTI region includes parts of 10 countries: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Guinea, Gambia, Senegal, Nigeria, Chad and Mauritania.

The Sahel has some of the highest birth rates in the world, and almost two thirds of the population are under 25 years.

Unlike the West, where “the terrorism of the lone actor is increasing,” the Sahel has seen the rapid expansion of the militant jihadist groups, according to the report.

He says that most of the attacks there were carried out by two organizations: the affiliate of the Islamic State group in the Sahel and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam Wal Muslimeen (Jnim), a branch of Al-Qaeda.

“They are trying to introduce new legal orders,” explains Niagalé Bagayoko, president of the African security sector. “They are trying to administer justice in particular based on Sharia.”

And in the process, she says that “they are competing with each other” for earth and influence.

According to the reports, Isa -sahel has doubled the amount of territory that controls in Mali from the blows of the country of 2020 and 2021, largely in the east near its borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, while Jnim also continued to expand its reach, according to a UN panel in the UN in Mali.

GTI’s report indicates that both groups have recruited more combatants, including soldiers in the case of IS.

“In some cases, people tend to be at a point of lack of choice for when they decide to join a militant group,” says Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst specialized in Francophone Africa in the control risks, a geopolitical risk consultant. “These are communities that are very vulnerable.”

GTI’s report explains how political instability and weak governance are creating ideal conditions for insurgents to grow, pointing out the conflict as “the main driver of terrorism.”

The Sahel is sometimes known as the “Cop Belt” of Africa.

Since 2020 there have been six successful blows in the region as defined by the GTI report: two in Mali, two in Burkina Faso, one in Guinea and one in Niger. These countries are now led by military boards.

“The Sahel has experienced a collapse in state society,” says Dr. Folahanmi Aina, an expert in the Soas University of London.

“It has been informed for years of negligence of political leaders who have not necessarily prioritized governance centered on people and local complaints have feast, which has resulted in terrorist groups that try to take advantage of them.”

There was a perception that civil governments could not combat the security threats of insurgent groups “, but although these together, they have not necessarily improved the optics in the field and, in fact, insecurity has worsened,” says Dr. Aina. “The joints are not professionally prepared for the rigors of governance.”

In fact, in 2024, Burkina Faso “remained the country most affected by terrorism for the second consecutive year” according to the GTI.

In the 14 years since the report began, it is the only country that leads the list that is not Iraq or Afghanistan.

Jihadist groups maintain their operations in the Sahel with a variety of illicit economic activities, including kidnapping for rescue and cattle whisper, according to the GTI report.

The region has also become a key route to drug traffickers who bring cocaine from South America to Europe, and the report indicates that “drug trafficking represents one of the most lucrative illegal activities financially linked to terrorism in Sahel.”

He points out that some groups vanish directly in organized crimes, however, preferring to “earn money by imposing taxes or providing security and protection in exchange for payment.”

He continues to explain: “This model not only generates income, but also helps these groups to integrate into local communities, strengthening their influence.”

Insurgent groups also compete for the control of Sahel’s rich natural resources. Niger is the seventh producer of the world in the world, and the unregulated artisanal gold mines found throughout the region are often used by Isa-Sahel and Jnim.

After the recent wave of coup d’etat, Sahel’s governments have moved away from Western allies, such as France and the United States, to China and Russia for support when addressing militants.

“At this time we are seeing that Russia is taking a more assertive control over Russian paramilitaries in the region known as the Africa body (previously Wagner),” says Mrs. Ochieng. “His work is to train and support local armies to be able to counteract the insurgency in the region, but so far it has not been effective.”

As a result, GTI’s report warns that there is now a risk of excessive beyond the so -called “epicenter of terror” to neighboring countries.

In fact, he says that this can already be happening: Togo registered 10 attacks and 52 deaths in 2024, most since the index began. These were largely concentrated along the country’s border with Burkina Faso.

Mrs. Ochieng agrees with this evaluation, saying that “the expansion of militant groups within the region in countries such as Benin or Togo or other coastal states of Western Africa seems to be imminent.”