Violent Extremism in West Africa in the 21st Century
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Since the early 2000s, there has been a steady increase in violent extremism and terrorism across the African continent. In West Africa, terrorism and violent extremism have had a devastating impact in terms of the loss of life, displacement of people, loss of livelihood and development.[1].
Violent extremism continues to spread throughout West Africa, including in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Between 2016 and 2019, the Sahel saw a record number of deaths, with violence linked to violent extremism organizations doubling every year in West Africa[2].
West African governments have responded to this threat, both individually and regionally. International support has also been garnered from countries such as the USA and France. However the violent extremism continues to grow- both as a result of factors intrinsic to the region, as well as due forged relationships with international violent extremist groups[1].
By Country[edit]
Burkina Faso[edit]
Main Article: Terrorism in Burkina Faso
The year 2015 saw a surge in instability and insecurity in Burkina Faso. Since then, the country has experienced an unprecedented number of coups, as well as a dramatic rise in violent extremist events[3].
Events related to violent extremism rose from 3 in 2015 to 137 in 2018, with an undiminished upward trend. In the Sahel, armed attacks on civilians are estimated to have displaced nearly 3 million people, 1 million of whom have been displaced since January of 2019[1].
Mali[edit]
Main Article: Mali War
The 2012 Tuareg rebellion in Mali precipitated a general climate of insecurity in the country. Mali frequently experiences violent attacks from radical Islamist groups[4].
Nigeria[edit]
Main Article: Boko Haram Insurgency
Since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, it has resulted in an estimated 2.5 million internally displaced people, over 200,000 Nigerian nationals seeking refuge in other countries[1].
Niger[edit]
Main Article: Jihadist Insurgency in Niger
Beginning in 2015, Niger has faced Islamist insurgencies from parties affiliated with al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic state, as well as Boko Haram[5].
Government Response[edit]
Ivory Coast[edit]
In June 2021 the Ivorian government in collaboration with France, inaugurated the International Counter-Terrorism Academy in Jacqueville, Côte d'Ivoire[6]. The aim of the academy is to train soldiers across West Africa in combating the surge of violent extremism expanding from the Sahel[7][8].
Intergovernmental[edit]
In 2013, ECOWAS passed the counter-terrorism strategy and implementation plan[9]. This however was not followed up by implementation[10].
In 2019, ECOWAS adopted the 2020-2024 Action Plan, whose priority areas range from pooling of efforts and coordination of counter-terrorism initiatives to promoting inter-community dialogue and preventing violent extremism. There however exist a number of hurdles in the way of implementation[10].
International Support[edit]
France[edit]
Main Article: Operation Barkhane
Since early 2013, the French military has had active forces in the Sahel region to combat radical Islamist groups[11].
This operation is gradually being drawn to a close however- France cites a conflict in counter-terrorism tactics with governments in the Sahel, while politicians and residents of the Sahel demonstrate skepticism as to France's intentions, due to possible colonial associations[12].
USA[edit]
As part of an intervention in Niger, the American military has been deploying special forces and drones to support the Nigerien government in their counter-terrorism operations[13].
Continued Spread[edit]
The extremist forces from the Sahel are progressively expanding into littoral states in West Africa, such as Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana. Benin and Côte d'Ivoire have begun to experience such extremist attacks within their borders[8].
Rear Admiral Milton Sands of the US Special Operations Command Africa, noted the deliberate long-term expansion of radical Islamism from the Sahel into coastal West Africa. He described these groups as marrying into populations, as well as providing government-like services to the communities[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Dr Monde Muyangwa. Introduction. Violent Extremism in West Africa: Are Current Responses Enough?, retrieved 2022-06-15
- ↑ "The Growing Threat of Violent Extremism in Coastal West Africa". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ↑ PenneyNovember 22 2018, Joe PenneyJoe; P.m, 12:00. "How America's Counterterror Strategy Helped Destabilize Burkina Faso". The Intercept. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ↑ "Mali | SIPRI". www.sipri.org. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ↑ "Abuses by Niger's foreign-funded army derail its anti-jihadist fight". The New Humanitarian. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
- ↑ AfricaNews (2021-06-10). "Côte d'Ivoire inaugurates International Academy for Combating Terrorism". Africanews. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ↑ "US Begins Counter-terrorism Training in Africa Amid Upheaval". VOA. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 VICE News, Violent Extremism Is Spreading In West Africa, retrieved 2022-06-15
- ↑ ECOWAS. "ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Implementation Plan" (PDF). ECOWAS.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 ISSAfrica.org (2021-02-17). "Slow progress for West Africa's latest counter-terrorism plan". ISS Africa. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ↑ "France sets up anti-Islamist force in Africa's Sahel". BBC News. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ↑ "Macron announces the end of France's anti-Islamist Operation Barkhane in the Sahel". France 24. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ↑ "Deciphering the new CIA drone base in Niger". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (en-GB). Retrieved 2022-06-19.
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