The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations made an unambiguous observation during a meeting of the Security Council (21.01.2025) devoted to the fight against terrorism on the continent.
Amina Mohammed explained that almost 60% of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
The epicenter of terrorist activities is more precisely in the Sahel, particularly dominated by military regimes. For Amina Mohamed, terrorism represents today “the most significant threat to peace, security and sustainable development” of Africa.
The high representative describes the Sahel as “the starting point of one of the most brutal crises in the world. For three consecutive years, there have been more than 6,000 deaths from terrorism in the region, or more than half of the victims in the world. Burkina Faso arrives in first place in the global ranking of victims of terrorism, “with a staggering increase of 68%, and with little support to help reverse this trende”.
She recalled that the threat was spreading more and more towards the coastal countries of the Gulf of Guinea where “Groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS have extended their murderous tentacles”. Deadly attacks there have progressed “more than 250% in just two years”.
Progress of the JNIM towards the Gulf of Guinea
This trend was confirmed by a researcher speaking to DW, detailing the progression of JNIM, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims.
“The JNIM is in a long-term strategy”believes Mamadou Mouth Bane. The JNIM is able to “do the same thing in Mopti, north of Bamako, or in Kayes, in the southwest” towards the Senegal border. “They will create uncertainty everywhere and show that they have real freedom of action”and predicts the expert.
Author of several publications on jihadism and crime in the Sahel, he assures that “The ambitions of terrorists have no limits”.
-Achieve these objectives, “Terrorist networks are now pooling their resources – financial, fighters and expertise – while refining their capabilities using new technologies, including unmanned flying vehicles”notes Amina Mohamed.
Faced with this threat which is spreading in West Africa, Musa Timothy Kabba, the head of diplomacy of Sierra Leone, said “note with concern the disengagement of ECOWAS and the security vacuum created by the departure of Minusma”.
“Reviving global interest” for the fight against terrorism in Africa
Also present at this Security Council meeting, Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union
He explained that “In 2024 alone, the African Union Counter-Terrorism Center, based in Algiers, recorded more than 3,400 attacks. These attacks left more than 13,900 dead.” Bankole Adeoye speaks of a “tipping point”.
Finally, Ahmed Attaf, Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who chaired this meeting, called for “rekindle global interest” for the fight against terrorism on the continent and called on the international community to “do not leave Africa alone in this fight”. For him, “Africa’s success will be a global success. Its failure will be detrimental to all”.
Beyond the Sahel, the Council recalled that “In other parts of Africa, terrorist groups like Shebab in Somalia, the ADF in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a in Mozambique continue to unleash horrific violence”.
For the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, “the marginalization of young people, combined with the explosion of unemployment, has left an entire generation vulnerable to extremist groups”.
