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The African Center for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), in its weekly bulletin "Africa Terrorism Bulletin", recorded 82 terrorist attacks in Africa between 16th-31st March 2019. The reporting period recorded 544 terrorist-related deaths, of which 415 directly by terrorist attacks, while 129 were recorded deaths during counter-terrorism operations conducted by security forces. The Sahel region recorded 57 out of 82 terrorist attacks. The death of 79 per cent of civilians, 62 per cent of the military and 66 per cent of terrorists occurred in the Sahel region.
For the whole of Africa, the bulletin reveals that 62% (344) of the dead were civilians while 27% (149) were civilians. Security / military forces account for 11% (61) of deaths. In 54 of the 82 attacks, terrorists used small arms and light weapons (SALW). Fifteen attacks were carried out against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), an improvised explosive device attack and SALW, and 12 abduction cases. Five of the kidnappings took place in the Soum province of Burkina Faso, three in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, two in Nigeria and one in Mali. A total of 140 people were taken hostage. 5 people were killed, 106 released and 29 remain hostages
Shabab have used small arms more than traps. Similarly, other groups, Boko Haram (Shekau faction), Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP), the Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam Walmuslimeen (JNIM), l 39; The Islamic State of the Great Sahara (ISGS), the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and affiliated organizations mainly used SALW. A case of kidnapping was attributed to Ansarul Islam. The use of small arms and light weapons accounted for 83% (326) of deaths resulting from terrorist attacks, while IEDs accounted for 15% (59) of deaths caused by terrorist groups. 5 people died cases of kidnappings.
The report further revealed that 57 attacks targeted civilians, 16 security forces, 7 government institutions / officials and 2 international organizations (MINUSMA, AMISOM, MINUSCA and Doctors Without Borders in DRC). Most Al-Shabaab, ISWAP and JNIM attacks targeted security forces, while Boko Haram (Shekau faction), ISGS, Ansarul Islam, ADF-affiliated organizations and at ISIS targeted more civilians during their attacks. Al-Shabaab attacks killed 24 people (all civilians), while Boko Haram killed 85 and JNIM killed 28 (27 military and 1 civilian). Similarly, ISWAP killed 2 people and IS affiliates in Libya killed a cilivian. 255 victims, including 245 civilians and 10 members of the armed and security forces, were killed by unaffiliated / unidentified groups.
In terms of losses suffered by terrorist groups, Boko Haram lost 80 members, while Al Shabaab lost 48 during CT operations. 21 others killed by counter-terrorism or counter-insurgency are from unidentified / unaffiliated groups.
The five countries most affected by terrorism during this period are Mali, Somalia, Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Countries in the Sahel region of West Africa recorded a total of 400 of the 544 deaths, or 74% of terrorism-related deaths for the period. Of these, 264 were civilians, 98 terrorists and 38 security personnel.
The period under review has been marked by an intensification of attacks by terrorist groups. The attacks targeted mainly civilians and security forces. The killing of 26 Malian soldiers in Dioura by JNIM, the killing of 23 Chadian soldiers in the Lake Chad Basin by Boko Haram, the killing of 15 civilians in Mogadishu by al Shabaab and the attacks persistent and coordinated ISWAP coordination in the Diffa region Niger demonstrates the complexity and ability of terrorist groups to cause devastating atrocities. The bold nature of these attacks, despite the efforts of the security forces to fight terrorism, demonstrates their viability and the ability of terrorist groups to continue to operate.
Examination of the situation reveals a deterioration of security, safety and stability in the Sahel region. Mali is confronted with the proliferation of violent extremist groups with various motivations. These include intercommunity rivalries, criminal activities, the continued restoration of ancient kingdoms and the spread of Salafism over Sufism. The ease with which small arms and light weapons can be acquired in the Sahel region contributes to daily attacks and atrocities. The variety of attacks perpetrated by jihadist groups, ethnic self-defense groups and transnational criminal networks could be attributed to their domination of the territory. The inability of the security forces to deprive violent terrorist / extremist groups and transnational criminal networks of the lands or strangles that they currently dominate on the roads connecting the Sahel and Maghreb regions has contributed to the continuation Terrorist and criminal activities in the countries of the Sahel region. A number of political, socio-cultural and economic factors still create very favorable conditions for the spread of terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahelian belt. Insecurity is growing in Burkina Faso, where the province of Soum has become a safe haven for kidnappers. ISWAP and Boko Haram became active in the Diffa region of Niger, as the results show.
Security forces remained sensitive to the changing situation. Counterterrorism operations have increased, particularly in the Lake Chad Basin. The MNJTF has intensified its CT operations in the Lake Chad Basin, against Boko Haram and ISWAP. If it is necessary to do more to support counterterrorism operations to improve security and stability, a human security response approach should illuminate the concepts of military operations. . Protection and empowerment of local communities should be prioritized in others to ensure resilience. The lack of opportunities for young people, political impunity, exclusion, marginalization, the effects of climate change / competition for scarce resources and underdevelopment are concerns that, if they are untreated, pose a high risk of escalation in local communities. commission of more atrocities.
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