Sahel nations are demonstrating increased effectiveness in their fight against al-Qaeda and "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) affiliates, with recent victories suggesting a potential turning point in the African region's security.
A surge in terrorist activity, led by groups like Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and local ISIS affiliates, has made the Sahel a global epicenter for extremist violence, according to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index.
In February, Nigerian forces, which have been responding to spillover violence from the Sahel while battling Boko Haram, killed 75 terrorists, arrested 138 and rescued 46 hostages, the Nigerian Defense Headquarters said February 13.
The momentum builds on a January counterterrorism initiative by Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, which deployed 5,000 troops with integrated aerial, ground and intelligence capabilities, Niger's defense minister Salifou Mody said January 22.
"The Sahel is ground zero for one of the world's most brutal crises," United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said January 21.
"Al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates have spread their deadly tentacles to West Africa's coastal countries, with violent attacks soaring by more than 250% in just two years," she added.
Between 2023 and 2024, JNIM and ISIS intensified operations along the borders of Benin, Niger and Nigeria, turning these areas into new conflict zones, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
"The violence in the Sahel is spilling into neighboring countries, including democracies -- however flawed -- such as Nigeria," Keith Richburg wrote for the Washington Post in November.
Turning the tide in the Sahel
Among the 10 countries hardest hit by terrorism worldwide, five are in the Sahel. Governments are responding with enhanced surveillance, tighter border controls and concentrated efforts to dismantle terrorist financing mechanisms.
"In recent years, al-Qaeda has expanded its influence across the Sahel by leveraging local terrorist groups," Kabul-based political analyst Farhad Ehsas told Salaam Times.
"On the other hand, ISIS also has kept pace and played a role -- just like al-Qaeda -- in fueling insecurity and the killing of both military personnel and civilians."
The expansion is fueled by the terrorists' need to recruit fighters and secure smuggling routes, ACLED reported.
"Although weak governance in the Sahel has allowed terrorist groups to grow, coordinated efforts by these nations can curb the spread of terrorism in the region," said Ghor-based political analyst Mohammad Sediq Radmanesh.
While poverty and state fragility continue to create favorable conditions for terrorist recruitment, recent military gains and deepened regional cooperation reflect growing resilience among Sahel nations, according to security experts.
The unified approach of local governments, paired with recent battlefield successes, points to a possible shift in the region's security landscape, they said.
