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N'Djameneh, Chad: A senior UN official warned earlier this month that terrorism and organized crime by violent extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS are becoming a pervasive threat across West Africa and The area is the beach.

The threat is now spreading to West African coastal countries, suggesting that the world may be waking up too late to this crisis.

Leonardo Simao, UN Special Representative for Sahel and West Africa, emphasized the increase in the trafficking of drugs, weapons, mineral resources, people and even food.

Hundreds of people were killed in terrorist attacks in the first half of 2024 alone, indicating a sharp escalation of violence.

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

This instability is also significant for the international community. Mustafa Saleh, a Chadian security expert, told Arab News: “With the tightening of the control of extremist groups, the human, economic and political consequences will reverberate far beyond the borders of Africa.”

This situation has been aggravated by recent political developments. The G5 Sahel, a French-backed coalition designed to coordinate security and development issues in West Africa, collapsed last year after the withdrawal of military-controlled Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

This prompted the United States and other Western countries to help Ghana and the West African coastal countries strengthen their defenses. Although Ghana has yet to face direct militant violence, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast have suffered attacks near their borders in recent years, signaling the growing threat of regional instability.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo said in a recent interview that, however, aid to West Africa is small compared to the aid provided to Ukraine.

US aid to Ukraine has increased to $113 billion since the Russian invasion. In contrast, the total aid of the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States to the Economic Community of West African States, the block known as ECOWAS, has amounted to 29.6 million dollars in the same period.

“Military regimes often struggle with legitimacy and resources, ill-equipped to manage the complex and well-funded operations of extremist groups. “The lack of international military support has made these countries vulnerable, and the consequences are becoming increasingly worse.”

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

Many Sahel countries are now turning away from the West to find an ally to bolster their defenses. Russian mercenary group Wagner has reportedly deployed military contractors and equipment to several West African countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso, over the past two years.

The human toll of this crisis is staggering. In the first six months of 2024, hundreds of civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks. Societies are falling apart and displacement of people is reaching unprecedented levels. As people flee the violence, refugee camps are expanding, resulting in an urgent need for humanitarian aid.

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

Meanwhile, drug and arms trafficking not only funds extremist operations, but also fuels more violence and creates a vicious cycle of instability.

The economic consequences are equally serious. The booming illegal trade in mineral resources, which includes gold, diamonds and other valuable commodities, is depriving countries of vital income. Instead of financing development and infrastructure, these resources finance terror and crime.

Disruption of legitimate trade routes due to insecurity has crippled the local economy. Farmers and traders find it increasingly difficult to transport goods, leading to food shortages and rising prices.

“Broader economic instability deters foreign investment, hinders development and increases poverty and disenfranchisement,” Saleh said.

Until last year, global support for the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region was significant with the help of various countries and organizations. The United States played an important role with its drone bases in Niger and Burkina Faso and about 1,000 troops in the region.

France was a prominent supporter through its military operations such as Operation Barkhane, which was based in Chad and involved around 4,000 personnel at its peak. Its purpose was to secure the region and fight terrorism with the participation of local forces in Mali, Niger and Chad.

The European Union Training Mission and the European Union Capacity Building Mission also played a role until the wave of coups caught the region by surprise. As a result, it becomes impossible for Western governments to continue military cooperation with hostile regimes.

But given the severity of the current crisis, many experts say the world cannot afford to look back. “The international community must recognize that threats from the Sahel and West Africa are not limited to the region, but have global implications,” Nigerian security expert Soli Amalkhar told Arab News.

Terrorism and organized crime in these regions can destabilize entire continents, disrupt global trade, and fuel mass migration. Amalkhar said: “Also, there is a risk of these extremist ideologies spreading beyond Africa, and it is considered a security threat to other regions.

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

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

Experts argue that addressing the crisis requires a multi-pronged approach, pointing to what they say is a mix of immediate and long-term strategies.

Immediate action should include re-establishing military engagement. Lauren Mitchell, a security expert from the Washington-based Institute of Peace, told Arab News that restoring and strengthening military cooperation with international partners is critical because it provides the necessary support for local forces to effectively counter the extremist threat.

Humanitarian aid is also vital. Immediate and essential aid is needed to support the displaced population and provide basic needs such as food, water and medical care.

In addition, strengthening border controls and international cooperation are necessary to disrupt smuggling networks. This includes better information sharing and coordinated law enforcement actions.

Long-term solutions are more focused on economic development and supporting projects that encourage self-sustainability.

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

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

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