Togo and Terrorism: From Transit Zone to Operational Base?

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Terrorism is crossing the traditional strongholds of the African Sahel and now threatening Togo, a neighboring country observers fear could evolve from a transit zone into a base for terrorist operations.

Capitalizing on the security and political crises in Mali and Burkina Faso, Al-Qaeda has expanded its attacks into Togo, turning it into a frequent target. Meanwhile, its rival, ISIS, has also seized the opportunity to increase its presence, competing for territorial control across the Sahel and Sahara.

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A Noticeable Advance

A recent report by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation focuses on the security situation in northern Togo and also highlights the growing terrorist threat in neighboring Benin. Coastal states have been facing an increasing terrorist threat from the Sahel for several years, and the report notes “clear gains” by terrorist groups in both Benin and Togo.

According to Matthias Klafkawi, a Togolese independent advisor and author of the report, the region of Kpendjal—once known as “the savannah granary”—is the most affected. He told Radio France Internationale (RFI) that due to the frequent attacks, people are afraid to go to work, resulting in reduced economic activity, rising prices, and widespread frustration.

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Togo, which imports many goods from Burkina Faso by road, is also facing logistical challenges. Truck drivers now have to choose between taking traditional, high-risk routes or longer, unpaved ones, both of which increase operational costs.

Since the first terrorist attack in May 2022—targeting a military site in the Savannah region—the frequency of incidents in northern Togo has shortened, with new attacks occurring just weeks apart. This indicates a strategic focus by terrorist groups.

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The area of operations has also expanded. What was once limited to border zones now includes Bourgou, a small town between Dapaong and Mandouri, where fighters linked to Al-Qaeda’s affiliate Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin are reportedly active.

Despite the Togolese government’s security initiatives, including the Koundjouaré military operation and a regional emergency plan launched in 2018, terrorist influence has slowly but steadily disrupted daily life and local agriculture, increasing market prices and reducing job opportunities.

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The Sahel: Global Terrorism Epicenter

For the second consecutive year, the Sahel remains the world’s most terrorism-affected region, according to the Global Terrorism Index. In 2024, out of 7,555 terrorism-related deaths globally, 3,885—51%—occurred in the Sahel.

The report, produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace in Sydney, ranks 163 countries based on the number of attacks, fatalities, injuries, and hostages. It shows that five of the ten most affected countries in 2024 are located in the Sahel, with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger consistently among the most impacted since 2017.

This data confirms a geographic shift in global terrorism from the Middle East toward the Sahel. The majority of attacks in the region are attributed to Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin or ISIS-affiliated groups operating across the Sahel.

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