The Sahel region of Africa has once again been identified as the global epicentre of terrorism, accounting for nearly half of all terrorism-related deaths for the third consecutive year, according to the latest report by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
The report, which assesses 163 countries based on factors such as attacks, deaths, injuries and kidnappings, revealed that in 2025, almost half of the 5,582 global terrorism deaths occurred within the Sahel — a vast semi-arid stretch south of the Sahara Desert.
Although the number of fatalities in the region dropped slightly compared to the previous year, the Sahel remains the most affected area globally. Experts say the region has seen a dramatic rise in violence over the years, with terrorism-related deaths increasing tenfold since 2007.
The report noted that the centre of global terrorism has gradually shifted from the Middle East and North Africa to sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Sahel.
While Burkina Faso had been the most affected country for two consecutive years, it was overtaken in 2025 by Pakistan, which recorded the highest number of terrorism-related deaths. Despite this, Burkina Faso saw a significant drop in fatalities, largely due to a reduction in civilian casualties.
Niger ranked third globally, with a rise in attacks and over 700 deaths, many of them civilians. Nigeria moved up to fourth place, recording 750 deaths in 2025 — a 46 per cent increase from the previous year. The surge has been linked to ongoing clashes between extremist groups, including ISWAP and Boko Haram.
Mali, which previously ranked higher, dropped to fifth place after a decline in deaths.
The report attributed most of the violence in the Sahel to extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, particularly the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), which has reportedly shifted its focus from targeting civilians to attacking military personnel.
It also warned that these groups are expanding their reach beyond the Sahel into coastal West African countries, with places like Benin recording a rise in incidents.
Overall, the findings highlight the growing security challenges in the region and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to tackle the spread of terrorism across Africa.
