By Mike Odeh James and Luka Binniyat
(Maiduguri) The Sahel is grappling with unprecedented violence, as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked jihadist groups intensify their attacks on civilians and military forces across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, and Chad.
The region witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks in 2024 with a monthly average of 4.4 attacks, up from 3.9 in 2023, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) institution.
Recent Surge in Jihadist Attacks Across West Africa
Jihadist attacks have left a trail of devastation across West Africa, particularly in Mali, Benin, Chad, and Nigeria. The atrocities committed by these groups are staggering. In September 2024, Al-Qaeda militants killed up to 100 people at an international airport complex in Bamako, Mali. The same month, around 600 civilians were machine-gunned in a few hours in Barsalgho, Burkina Faso.
A disturbing video from Mali circulated on social media in July 2024, showing a man in a military uniform mutilating a corpse. These incidents underscore the brutality and impunity with which these groups operate.
On January 11, 2025, Benin Republic suffered a devastating attack by jihadist groups, resulting in the loss of at least 28 troops near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. The Al-Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted a military outpost in the northern region of Benin.
And in Chad, Boko Haram launched a series of attacks on Chadian forces, killing over 50 soldiers. This prompted the Chadian leader to withdraw from the Joint Multinational Joint Taskforce, a regional initiative aimed at combating Boko Haram’s cross-border attacks.
The group kept up the pressure on Chad when, in January 2025, it launched a daring attack on the presidential palace in Ndjamena, reportedly targeting Chadian President Mahamat Deby.
Similarly, Boko Haram has made a significant comeback since 2023, killing nearly 200 Nigerians in the North East region in less than four months. The group’s resurgence has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Nigerian security forces in combating terrorism.
Why the Surge in Attacks?
The withdrawal of Western forces from Niger, Chad, Mali, and Burkina Faso has created a security vacuum in the Sahel region, making it easier for jihadist groups to plan and carry out attacks.
“The withdrawal of Western forces has left a huge gap in terms of technological reconnaissance and surveillance,” said Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert, in an exclusive interview with TruthNigeria.
“The Americans had drone bases in Agadez and Zinder, Niger, while the French had a base in Chad with approximately 2,000 troops. Without these forces, the region is more vulnerable to terrorist activity.”
Makama pointed to the recent attack on the Presidential Palace in Chad by Boko Haram as an example of the consequences of the Western withdrawal.
“This attack shows that the jihadist groups can now operate freely, without fear of detection or reprisal,” he said.
The security expert warned that the situation in the Sahel region will continue to deteriorate unless urgent action is taken to address the security vacuum.
“The international community needs to come together to support the countries in the region and help them build their capacity to counter terrorism,” Makama said.
“The Americans use their drones to provide the needed intelligence for Nigerian, Nigerien, Chadian, and Malian militaries, but that is not the case anymore,” David Onyilokwu Idah, Director of the International Human Rights Commission, tells TruthNigeria.
“The Jihadists are sensing that they can do more harm and attacks now that the West has left,” he added.
Idah also noted that the decision of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to pull out of the regional bloc called the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the bickering between Niger and Benin Republic, Niger, and Nigeria have left the Sahel in a vulnerable state.
“The Jihadists are also emboldened by the lack of military cooperation between the ECOWAS states. The direct consequences of that are the attacks on Beninois forces by the Jihadists.”
“The Jihadists were able to slip through the Malian side of the border unchecked and launch attacks on Benin Republic,” Idah noted.
Jihadists Want to Create a Greater Islamic Caliphate
According to regional security experts, groups such as JNIM, ISGS, and AQIM are working tirelessly to recreate the ISIS caliphate, which they see as a model for Islamic governance.
The jihadist groups in the Sahel region are driven by a desire to establish a caliphate similar to the one created by Al Baghdadi in Iraq,” said Idah, a regional security analyst.
“These groups already control significant territories in Burkina Faso and Mali,” said Washington-based security analyst Scott Morgan to TruthNigeria. “By some estimates 40 percent of Burkina Faso and 20 percent of Mali are under their control,” he added.
Morgan notes that these groups, including Ansaru and Boko Haram, maintain hidden bases in Nigeria’s Niger State, which shares borders with Benin Republic. They are able to move freely from Mali into Niger State via Benin Republic, taking advantage of the porous borders and lack of effective governance in the region.
The only factor preventing these groups from making further gains is the strong military presence in Nigeria – at least compared to other countries in the region. However, Morgan warns that the jihadists have an endless stream of recruits and a steady supply of military hardware, which enables them to engage governments in the Sahel region.
US Urged to Act on Sahel Crisis
The deteriorating situation in the Sahel region of Africa has prompted a call to action from the United States by regional security expert Idah.
“The Sahel region is a breeding ground for terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, which pose a significant threat to global security, including American interests,” Idah said.
The expert urged the United States to take a proactive and sustained approach to address the root causes of this conflict and to support regional efforts to promote stability, security, and democracy.
“Countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are American allies, but the Russians, the Chinese and Turks are looking for any means to pry them away from America.”
Mike Odeh James and Luka Binniyat are conflict reporters for TruthNigeria.
