At a bustling market in Tougbo, northern Ivory Coast, the signs of daily life traders selling cassava, children playing, and worshippers emerging from Sunday service mask a growing undercurrent of danger. Despite the seemingly normal atmosphere, jihadist insurgents are steadily encroaching on the region, emboldened by their hold over landlocked neighbors like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Nearly half of global terrorism deaths in 2023 were recorded in the Sahel, with extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State expanding southward toward the Atlantic coast. Their goal: to establish control in coastal West African nations such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. If successful, these groups could exploit the region’s maritime access for smuggling and trafficking, financing their operations more efficiently and potentially posing a wider international threat.
Ivory Coast, seen as a pillar of relative stability in West Africa, is now on the front lines. Despite military patrols and fortified checkpoints near the border, insurgents move freely, blending into communities and markets, recruiting youth with promises of quick money and opportunity. Local leaders, particularly from the Fulani ethnic group, express alarm at how economic desperation drives young men into extremist ranks.
Military strategies have seen some progress. Towns like Kafolo, previously targeted by deadly attacks, are now fortified and more secure. Yet the challenge remains complex. Locals often maintain relationships with both military forces and insurgents, navigating a fragile coexistence driven by fear, economic survival, or coercion.
Extremist groups have sought to appear as protectors in some regions, offering themselves as an alternative to corrupt state structures. However, their violent tactics and rising death tolls betray a deeper threat. In response, Ivory Coast has combined military action with development efforts building roads, installing electricity, and training thousands of youth in trades.
Despite these investments, many young people report seeing little change. Job training programs often fail to translate into employment, and frustration is mounting. With over 75% of the population under 35, the lack of economic opportunity remains a powder keg.
Local leaders and youth activists warn that unless more effective and immediate action is taken to address poverty and unemployment, the threat will escalate. As disillusioned youth are offered motorcycles and cash by insurgents, the potential for large-scale destabilization grows.
The situation presents a critical moment for both regional governments and international partners. Without sustained support and strategic investment, the jihadi creep toward the Atlantic coast may become irreversible, with consequences not just for West Africa, but far beyond.
