Pay to Access | Consolidating Peace and Countering Terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel: The Path Toward Regional Security Integration

The Sahel and coastal West Africa face a rapidly evolving security crisis. Armed Islamist networks—including JNIM, Boko Haram, and ISWAP—are expanding operational reach across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and toward the Gulf of Guinea, exploiting governance vacuums, porous borders, and overstretched national militaries.

Despite regional frameworks such as the ECOWAS Standby Force, the Accra Initiative, and the MNJTF, coordination gaps, political disputes, and funding shortfalls continue to undermine stabilization efforts. Emerging multipolar dynamics—including Russian bilateral partnerships and Western strategic withdrawals—further complicate operational coherence and risk fragmenting regional security architectures.

This report contains:

• Operational Assessment of Sahel Security – Field-based review of high-impact attacks, territorial control, and insurgent adaptation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
• Emerging Threats in Coastal West Africa – Analysis of terrorist infiltration into Benin, Togo, and Ghana, including maritime and land-based routes.
• Regional Security Frameworks – Evaluation of ECOWAS, Accra Initiative, and MNJTF effectiveness, and identification of structural weaknesses, resource gaps, and political bottlenecks.
• Geopolitical Influences – Examination of multipolar dynamics, including Western withdrawal, Russian military engagement, and their impact on regional cooperation.
• Intelligence and Coordination Mechanisms – Review of current intelligence sharing, joint operations planning, and inter-agency fusion capabilities.
• Civilian and Humanitarian Implications – Overview of displacement, food insecurity, and governance erosion as armed groups consolidate influence.
• Strategic Recommendations – ASA guidance for accelerating operationalization, integrating counterterrorism and stabilization mandates, funding mechanisms, and strengthening civil-military trust.
• Forward-Looking Indicators – Predictive assessment of insurgent expansion, cross-border threats, and operational failure points in 2026.

This in-depth analysis is essential for policymakers, security practitioners, and regional actors tracking the shifting balance of power, insurgent networks, and the prospects for integrated peace and counterterrorism efforts across West Africa and the Sahel.