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N'Djamena, Chad: A senior United Nations official warned earlier this month that terrorism and organized crime by violent extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Daesh pose a growing threat to West Africa and the Sahel region.

The threat has now spread to coastal countries in West Africa, which may be waking the world too late to the unfolding crisis.

A statement by the United Nations Special Representative for the Sahel and West Africa, Leonardo Simao, highlighted the rise in illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, mineral resources, human beings and even food.

The first half of 2024 alone saw hundreds of people killed in terrorist attacks, reflecting a dramatic increase in violence.

These developments underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of the challenge. The interplay of terrorism with organized crime networks has created a volatile environment where insecurity is common.

“This instability is also important for the international community. As extremist groups tighten their grip, the humanitarian, economic and political consequences risk reverberating far beyond Africa's borders,” Chadian security expert, Mustafa Saleh, told Arab News.

The situation has worsened due to the latest political upheaval. The G5 Sahel, a French-backed alliance aimed at coordinating security and development issues in West Africa, collapsed last year after the military-junta-run nations of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso withdrew.

This prompted the US and other Western countries to help Ghana and neighboring coastal West African nations strengthen their security. Although Ghana has not yet faced direct militant violence, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast have experienced attacks near their borders in recent years, illustrating the growing threat of regional instability.

Still, aid to West Africa has been lacking compared to aid provided to Ukraine, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said in a recent interview.

US aid to Ukraine has reached $113 billion after Russia invaded. In contrast, joint aid from the EU, the UK and the US to the Economic Community of West African States, a bloc known as ECOWAS, amounted to a comparable $29.6 million over the same period.

“Military regimes often struggle with legitimacy and resources, making them unable to handle the sophisticated and well-funded operations of extremist groups. The lack of international military support has weakened these nations, and the consequences are becoming more dire,” Saleh said.

This sudden shift has opened the floodgates for a tide of extremism as these countries struggle to fill the security vacuum left by the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Many Sahel countries are now turning away from the West to seek allies to strengthen their security. Russian mercenary group Wagner has reportedly deployed contractors and military equipment to West African countries including Mali and Burkina Faso over the past two years.

The human toll of this growing crisis is staggering. Hundreds of civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks in the first six months of 2024. Communities are fragmenting, and displacement of people has reached unprecedented levels. Refugee camps are growing as people flee violence, resulting in a dire need for humanitarian aid.

Furthermore, human trafficking is becoming an important issue. Vulnerable populations are exploited, sold into slavery or forced into militant groups. Illegal migration from West African countries to Europe, common migration routes, is on the rise.

Meanwhile, drug and arms trafficking fuel not only acts of extremism but also more violence, creating a vicious cycle of instability.

The economic implications are equally severe. The growing illegal trade in mineral resources, including gold, diamonds and other precious commodities, is depriving nations of significant revenue. Instead of investing in development and infrastructure, these resources are investing in terror and crime.

Due to insecurity, the local economy has collapsed due to the blocking of legal trade routes. Farmers and traders find it difficult to transport goods, leading to food shortages and price increases.

“Macroeconomic instability discourages foreign investment and hinders development, exacerbating poverty and disenfranchisement,” Saleh said.

Until last year, global support to fight terrorism in the Sahel region was significant with contributions from various countries and organizations. The US has played a significant role with drone bases in Niger and Burkina Faso and about 1,000 troops in the region.

France was a major supporter through military operations such as Operation Barkhane, headquartered in Chad and involving around 4,000 personnel at its peak. It was intended to secure the region and fight terrorism in partnership with local forces in Mali, Niger and Chad.

EU training missions and EU capacity-building missions also played a role until the wave of coup d'etats that shocked the region. As a result, it becomes impossible for Western governments to continue military cooperation with hostile juntas.

But given the severity of the current crisis, many experts say the world can't afford to look away. “The international community must understand that the threats emanating from the Sahel and West Africa are not limited to this region but have global implications,” Nigerian security expert Sauli Amalkher told Arab News.

Terrorism and organized crime in these regions can destabilize entire continents, disrupt global trade and fuel mass migration. “There is also a risk that these extremist ideologies will spread beyond Africa, posing a security threat to other regions,” Amalkher said.

Experts say the spread of extremist ideologies and the presence of terrorist groups in West Africa will lead to instability that could also affect the Arabian Peninsula.

They say the West Gulf states, already supporting counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa, should reconfigure their strategies in light of the recent dissolution of the G5 Sahel.

Addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach, experts argue, pointing to the need for a combination of what they say are immediate and long-term strategies.

“Immediate actions must include the re-establishment of military partnerships. Re-establishing and strengthening military cooperation with international partners is important as it provides the support local forces need to effectively counter the extremist threat,” Lauren Mitchell, a security expert at the Washington-based Institute of Peace, told Arab News.

Humanitarian aid is also essential. Immediate and adequate assistance is needed to support displaced populations and provide basic needs such as food, water and medical care.

In addition, there is a need to strengthen border control and international cooperation for the disruption of smuggling networks. This includes better intelligence sharing and coordinated law enforcement operations.

Long-term solutions often focus on supporting projects that promote economic development and self-sustainability.

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

Analysts have found that providing youth with education and vocational training can help prevent them from being recruited by extremist groups. Social programs that address poverty and deprivation are critical to long-term sustainability.

They say international efforts should focus on facilitating the transition to stable, civilian-led administrations capable of effectively managing and addressing the needs of their populations.