The Sahel region of Africa has been identified as the world’s most affected area by terrorism, accounting for an alarming 51% of all terrorism-related deaths globally in 2024, according to the newly released 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI).
The figure marks a sharp increase from 48% the previous year, underscoring a deteriorating security situation in the region.
The report, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace in Sydney, also revealed that the Sahel was the location of 19% of all global terrorist incidents in 2024, highlighting its status as the epicentre of violent extremism.
Among Sahel countries, Burkina Faso remains the most severely affected, recording over 700 terrorism-related deaths in 2024. The violence is largely attributed to the operations of extremist groups such as Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), which continues to expand its footprint in the region.
Neighbouring Niger also bore the brunt of violence, with more than 400 fatalities resulting from terrorist attacks. Insurgents targeted villages, security posts, and public spaces, further destabilising the country.
In Nigeria, one of the deadliest attacks of the year occurred in Mafa village, Yobe State, where between 100 and 150 people were killed. The northeastern region also witnessed internal conflict among extremist factions, with Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacking Boko Haram positions near Lake Chad on April 24, resulting in the deaths of 70 Boko Haram fighters and 10 ISWAP members.
Mali also experienced a tragic year, with a major attack on a Gendarmerie training school in Bamako claiming the lives of 60 soldiers. JNIM claimed responsibility for the assault, which sent shockwaves through the capital.
According to the United Nations, terrorist activity in the Sahel has persisted into 2025, with attacks continuing across multiple fronts and the death toll still climbing. The region’s complex insurgency, driven by ideological extremism, weak governance, and poverty, continues to pose a significant threat to regional stability.
The Global Terrorism Index calls for urgent international cooperation and a multidimensional approach to stem the tide of violence in the Sahel and address the root causes of terrorism.
