Terrorism Shifts to West Africa, Exploiting State Weakness and Public Frustration
While global terrorist attacks decline, the epicenter has moved to West African nations such as Nigeria, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where militants exploit weak governance and local grievances.
The article notes that worldwide terrorist incidents and casualties are falling, yet the focus has migrated to West Africa. After 9/11, the region was initially peripheral to the U.S.-led war on terror, but jihadist groups later entered poorly governed territories. The United States, France and other Western powers subsequently poured billions into training local forces. After more than two decades, the results are mixed, with insurgents adept at leveraging state fragility and popular discontent alongside new technologies.
Why it matters
Understanding the rise of terrorism in West Africa highlights security gaps that affect regional stability and international counter-terrorism efforts.
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