Sahel's Shadow War: A New Era for Extremist Groups in Africa Islamist extremist violence in Africa's Sahel region is on track to reach unprecedented heights this year, with over 3,000 events of violence already logged.
According to conflict monitor Acled, the number of incidents has risen dramatically from 63 in 2016 to 2,845 in 2025, a staggering increase that underscores the expanding presence of groups linked to al Qaida and Islamic State.
The Sahel's instability is often seen as an isolated problem, but its complexities run deeper.