Rising Terrorist Activities in the African Sahel… “Global Report”

Since the beginning of the year, African Sahel countries have been facing catastrophic consequences due to increasing terrorist activities, particularly in the tri-border region between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, known as the Liptako-Gourma.

• Rise in Al-Qaeda activities in the African Sahel… What factors led to this?

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The 2024 Global Peace Index report, issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace, has identified this region as the most affected by terrorism worldwide.

Souad Shalabi, former Assistant to the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs and a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders, highlighted that the African Sahel has witnessed a significant rise in terrorist operations over the past few years. These attacks have markedly escalated this year due to the security and political vacuum in countries like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, as reported by Al-Ittihad.

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• The Growing Jihadist Violence in the Sahel

The African affairs expert pointed out that several factors have contributed to turning the Sahel into a global hotspot for terrorism. Among these are the successive military coups and the worsening living conditions of local populations, which have allowed terrorist organizations to thrive.

Shalabi added that terrorist groups in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, are conducting intensive attacks to gain control over natural resources, mineral wealth, grazing lands, and livestock. They are also involved in human trafficking, arms dealing, and drug trade.

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In the same context, Rami Zahdi, an expert in African affairs, stated in an interview with Al-Ittihad that most of the terrorist attacks witnessed in Africa during 2024 were concentrated in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel, which experienced the deadliest assaults. These security tensions pose a significant threat to the peace and stability of the region.

• Russia’s plans succeed in paving the way for the dissolution of the Sahel Group

• Mauritania fears the deterioration of Sahel Countries’ ties and the strengthening of terrorists’ grip