Abidjan: Africas Sahel region is becoming increasingly notorious as a terrorism hot spot, as highlighted by the latest Global Terrorism Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. About 51% of global terror-related deaths are recorded in the Sahel, where two al-Qaeda-linked groups are expanding their influence.
According to Deutsche Welle, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) and the so-called Islamic State groups are the primary forces behind the wave of terror in the Sahel, impacting countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. These groups are now spreading their reach southwards, infiltrating coastal nations like Benin, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
In Benin’s northern border towns, attacks on military outposts and civilians have become a persistent threat. In April 2025, JNIM militants were responsible for the deaths of at least 54 soldiers along the shared border with Burkina Faso and Niger. Togo is experiencing a similar rise in terror activities.
The coastal regions serve as a crucial escape corridor for terror groups from military offensives and are vital trade arteries and gateways into landlocked countries, essential for European shipping lines. Furthermore, the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex of protected lands and parks, spanning Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, provides a strategic buffer for terrorists and a zone for smuggling and illicit economic activities.
Groups like JNIM have become entrenched in the expansive forest areas from which they launch attacks along the Benin-Niger border. James Barnett, a research fellow at Hudson Institute, told DW that JNIM’s activities in Benin are related to its operations in Burkina Faso, allowing more movement and encircling the region.
In recent years, Sahel-based terrorists have moved into largely ungoverned spaces in West Africa, exploiting strategic minerals and materials for terrorism financing. Oluwole Ojewale, a researcher at the Dakar-based Institute for Security Studies, noted that these regions provide a recruitment ground for terror groups, exploiting young people’s frustration and sense of neglect.
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 allowing violence to spill over from the Sahel to the coast. Ojewale highlighted the minimal cross-border intelligence, which has been insufficient to curb the infiltration of terrorist groups.
A wave of initiatives by individual coastal countries has seen security forces deployed to ensure border control in their fragile northern territories. Benin has stationed approximately 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 bolster border security.
Barnett emphasized that resources and logistics alone are not enough to stem the spillover of terrorism. Coastal and Sahel states need to overcome mistrust and share intelligence to address the varying threats across the region. He also stressed the importance of incorporating socioeconomic initiatives alongside security responses. Cote d’Ivoire has introduced social projects to alleviate poverty and youth unemployment, fostering trust between the military and communities.
Barnett further stated that the state’s presence should extend beyond sporadic policing to avoid perceptions of targeting or harassment, and instead, engage in addressing socioeconomic concerns and community needs.