Three dead in shooting among Ukrainian troops

N'Djamena, Chad: A senior UN official issued a stark warning earlier this month that terrorism and organized crime by violent extremist groups linked to al Qaeda and Daesh are escalating threats across West Africa and the Sahel.

The threat is now spreading to coastal countries in West Africa, suggesting the world is waking up too late to a growing crisis.

A statement by Leonardo Simao, the UN special representative for the Sahel and West Africa, highlighted the surge in illicit trafficking in drugs, weapons, minerals, people and even food.

Hundreds of people were killed in terrorist attacks in the first half of 2024 alone, showing a dramatic escalation in violence.

These developments highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of the challenge: the intertwining of terrorism and organized crime networks has created an environment of instability where instability is the norm.

“This instability is also important to the international community. As extremist groups gain strength, the humanitarian, economic and political repercussions risk reverberating far beyond Africa’s borders,” Chadian security expert Mustapha Saleh told Arab News.

The situation has been made worse by recent political upheaval. The G5 Sahel, a French-backed alliance coordinating security and development issues in West Africa, collapsed last year after the military-run Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso withdrew.

This has led the United States and other Western countries to support Ghana and surrounding coastal West African countries in strengthening their defenses. While Ghana has not yet faced direct armed violence, Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire have suffered attacks near their borders in recent years, underscoring the growing threat of regional instability.

In a recent interview, Ghana's Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said aid to West Africa was still inadequate compared to that provided to Ukraine.

Since the Russian invasion, US aid to Ukraine has grown to $113 billion. In contrast, aid from the EU, UK and US to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a bloc known as the bloc, has been a comparatively small $29.6 million over the same period.

“Military regimes often struggle with legitimacy and resources and are ill-prepared to deal with sophisticated and well-funded operations by extremist groups. The lack of international military support has left these states vulnerable, and the consequences are increasingly dire,” Saleh said.

This sudden change has led to a surge of extremism as countries seek to fill the security vacuum left by the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Many Sahel countries are now looking to the West for allies to bolster their defenses. The Russian mercenary group Wagner is said to have deployed contractors and military equipment to several West African countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso, over the past two years.

The human cost of this escalating crisis is staggering. Hundreds of civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks in the first half of 2024. Communities are being torn apart, and people are being displaced at unprecedented levels. Refugee camps are growing as people flee the violence, creating a desperate need for humanitarian assistance.

In addition, human trafficking is a serious problem, with vulnerable people being exploited, sold into slavery, or forced into armed groups. Illegal migration from West African countries to Europe is on the rise along common migration routes.

Meanwhile, the drug and arms trade not only funds extremist activities, but also fuels further violence, creating a vicious cycle of instability.

The economic impact is equally serious. The country is losing vital revenues as the illegal trade in mineral resources, including gold, diamonds and other precious commodities, is soaring. Instead of funding development and infrastructure, these resources are funding terrorism and crime.

The disruption of legitimate trade routes due to instability has paralyzed the local economy. Farmers and merchants are finding it increasingly difficult to transport goods, which has led to food shortages and rising prices.

“Broader economic instability deters foreign investment, hinders development and deepens poverty and disenfranchisement,” Saleh said.

By last year, global support for combating terrorism in the Sahel had been significant, with contributions from a variety of countries and organizations. The United States played a key role, with drone bases in Niger and Burkina Faso and a presence of about 1,000 troops in the region.

France was a prominent supporter of military operations such as Operation Barkhane, which at its peak involved some 4,000 personnel from its headquarters in Chad, working with local forces in Mali, Niger and Chad to secure the area and fight terrorism.

The EU training mission and EU capacity building mission also played a role until the wave of coups took the region by surprise, making it impossible for Western governments to continue military cooperation with hostile military juntas.

But given the severity of the current crisis, many experts say the world cannot afford to turn a blind eye. “The international community must recognize that the threats emanating from the Sahel and West Africa are not confined to the region, but have global implications,” Souley Amalker, a Niger-based security expert, told Arab News.

Terrorism and organized crime in the region could destabilize the entire continent, disrupt global trade and encourage mass migration. “There is also a risk that these extremist ideologies could spread beyond Africa and pose a security threat to other regions,” Amalkher said.

Experts say the spread of extremist ideology and the presence of terrorist groups in West Africa are creating instability that could spill over to the Arabian Peninsula.

They say pro-Western Gulf states already support counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa, but the recent dissolution of the G5 Sahel requires a rethink of their strategy.

Experts argue that tackling this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, combining immediate and long-term strategies.

“Immediate action must include reestablishing military partnerships. It is important to restore and strengthen military cooperation with international partners so that they can provide the support that regional militaries need to effectively address extremist threats,” Lauren Mitchell, a security expert at the Washington-based Institute for Peace, told Arab News.

Humanitarian assistance is also essential. Immediate and practical assistance is needed to support migrants and provide basic necessities such as food, water and medical care.

Additionally, strengthening border controls and international cooperation is essential to disrupting human trafficking networks, including better information sharing and coordinated law enforcement actions.

Long-term solutions focus primarily on supporting projects that encourage economic development and self-reliance.

“This includes building infrastructure to ensure food security, creating jobs and promoting sustainable agricultural practices,” Mitchell said.

Analysts found that providing education and job training to young people could help prevent them from being recruited by extremist groups. Social programs that address poverty and disenfranchisement are essential for long-term stability.

They say international efforts should focus on promoting a transition to stable, citizen-led administrations that can effectively manage and address the needs of their citizens.