Women rise as unlikely warriors against extremism in Africa's Sahel

Women are at the forefront of a bold strategy to combat violent extremism across Africa's volatile Sahel region launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Building on previous achievements, UNDOC launched a program last year to train 150 local religious and community leaders in Mauritania, Senegal and Benin to counter the influence of terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and its affiliates.

Known as Murshidat, the program is designed to empower women with religious and social influence, equipping them with essential skills to prevent violent extremism and counter terrorist propaganda, per the 2024 UNODC report.

These women leaders are trained to raise awareness in their communities about the dangers of extremist and violent ideologies through speeches, counseling and active engagement in schools and mosques.

The Sahel region -- especially Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Senegal -- has become a major hub for al-Qaeda affiliates and other terrorist groups in recent years.

The initiative represents a strategic shift in recognizing women's unique position to influence their communities despite traditional restrictions.

Breaking barriers

"African Muslim societies are traditional, and women face many restrictions there," former Herat university professor Belqis Ahrari told Salaam Times.

"But the women who take on leadership roles in countering extremism have broken these barriers and are weakening terrorism in their communities."

Women play a key role in combating extremism and preventing the recruitment of youth and teenagers into terrorist groups, Ahrari said.

"These women can help steer men, especially youth, away from religious extremism, which is a major blow to terrorist groups," she said.

"Placing women in leadership positions in communities threatened by terrorism and violent extremism in Africa improves security and stability in those regions."

Cross-border effort

Last year, women leaders from Senegal took part in a joint awareness initiative at a religious school near Nouakchott, Mauritania, teaming up with women leaders from the neighboring country to spread anti-extremism messages.

This cross-border cooperation among women proved both inspiring and impactful in fighting violent behavior and religious extremism, Ahrari said.

These women also help children, young victims of terrorism, prisoners and their families distance themselves from violent and extremist ideologies.

They also act as social watchdogs, reporting suspected cases of extremism to military and security authorities.

"Terrorist groups like al-Qaeda exploit the poverty and illiteracy of people in Africa's poorest countries, trapping their youth," Kabul-based political affairs analyst Mohammad Nabi Zakeri told Salaam Times.

"Awareness campaigns and support for these families prevent young people from showing interest in terrorist groups," he said.

"Expanding awareness programs and assisting terrorism victims in the Sahel will further shrink the space for terrorist groups to operate."