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2 clusters · 6 sources · 6 days · First seen · Last updated

Jihadist terrorism expansion in Africa

Overview

Jihadist terrorism is expanding across the Sahel and broader African continent, driven by regional state weakness and the declining effectiveness of Western counter-terrorism strategies. Analysts have noted a shift toward smaller, more unpredictable groups that exploit security gaps.

Recent data from the African Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) indicates that fatalities from Islamist violence have reached record levels, with over 23,800 deaths reported in the last year. The Sahel remains the epicenter, accounting for 42% of these fatalities, alongside significant violence in Somalia and the Lake Chad Basin.

A notable tactical evolution is the increased use of remote violence. While conventional airstrikes account for 80% of deaths from aviation, fatalities from remote violence rose by 42% in the last twelve months. Specifically, militant groups such as the Al Qaeda affiliate JNIM are increasingly utilizing modified commercial drones to drop improvised munitions.

Entities

Sahel · Spanish Institute of Migratory Analysis · Islamic State · African Center for Strategic Studies · Mali

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Jihadist violence in Africa hits record fatalities

    Jihadist violence in Africa has hit record highs with over 23,800 deaths in the last year, driven by increased drone warfare and activity in the Sahel, Somalia, and the Lake Chad Basin.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Sahel jihadist terrorism expands amid regional state weakness

    Jihadist terrorism is expanding in the Sahel, with record activity levels projected for 2026. The instability threatens regional security and impacts migratory flows toward the Canary Islands.

Sources

atlantico.net · lacronicabadajoz.com · laregion.es · lasemainedansleboulonnais.fr · ocio.diarioinformacion.com · ocio.farodevigo.es