Introduction

The regional violence within West Africa and the Sahel has been increasing for decades. Within the past few months, terrorist groups have been working with little resistance in the area due to a lack of an organized counterterrorism strategy. Groups like The Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have caused school shutdowns and power outages across Mali. While some coordination has improved between states, the system in the Sahel remains lacking. Growing terrorist organizations and a lack of regional collaboration have combined to cause the extreme crisis in the Sahel.

The Blockade in Mali

Recently, there has been a major rise in terrorist activity in West Africa and the Sahel. Al-Qaeda-linked groups have almost achieved a takeover of Mali. The Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a violent extremist group, is operating in Bamako, Mali’s capital. They have blocked fuel passages and attacked army groups.

The blockade began after Mali’s government banned small-scale fuel sales in rural areas. Starting July 1, 2025, only government-owned fuel stations were allowed, in an attempt to hurt JNIM operations. The JNIM responded with a major supply blockade in Bamako, starting in September 2025. They attacked trucks with fuel supplies. They also attacked tankers coming from the Ivory Coast and Senegal. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), one attack in September destroyed almost 50 fuel trucks.  For weeks, Bamako residents have been unable to get fuel for cars or other vehicles. The prices of what little oil is left rose by 400 percent. In late October 2025, the United States and the United Kingdom instructed non-essential workers to leave Mali.

This is significant because the JNIM has shown a higher level of capability. This new show of power can harm the fragile conditions in the Sahel. While Mali is a main target of operations currently, JNIM is also active in Burkina Faso and Niger but could expand even more. In late October 2025, the JNIM staged its first known attack in Nigeria. This attack in Western Kwara State left one soldier dead. Overall, a takeover of Mali by violent extremists has broader regional impacts by further expanding terrorist control.

Regional Cooperation

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met from November 4 to 6, 2025, in Nigeria for the West African Islamic Conference on Security and Governance. The conference reflected ECOWAS’s commitment to promoting stability through dialogue and cooperation. Participants discussed policies aimed at strengthening social cohesion, encouraging interreligious understanding, and advancing inclusive governance as key tools for regional peace and development.

Omar Touray, president of ECOWAS, stated that protecting schools, students, and teachers is key. Doing so is a major step in ending the recruitment of children into extremist organizations. Touray called for the improvement of these schools from informal spaces to formal learning environments. Likewise, he says this will shield children from joining criminal groups. This aligns with policies outlined in ECOWAS’s Action Plan Against Terrorism, a regional framework that brings together state and non-state actors. The plan addresses violent extremism through coordination, intelligence sharing, and community engagement. These efforts represent a positive step toward preventing terrorism, but the region continues to face growing security challenges. Recently, terrorism-related deaths have risen by about 10 percent, underscoring the gap between policy goals and reality.

Improving regional efforts and coordination is difficult because Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso left ECOWAS in early 2025. Noting this and other developments, UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke to the United Nations Security Council on November 17, 2025. He urged countries in the Sahel to work together toward a better counter-terrorism strategy. He warned that the instability in the Sahel is no longer a regional issue. Instead, it is a global threat, as the Sahel is becoming the center of world terrorism.

Conclusion

The current situation in Mali illustrates the worsening instability across the Sahel. The JNIM blockade and the growing influence of violent groups have left civilians and humanitarian organizations struggling under harsh conditions. Essential resources are scarce and expensive, deepening the crisis. While the West African Islamic Conference on Security and Governance is working toward long-term solutions, urgent challenges demand immediate attention. Short-term measures are critical to alleviate suffering and restore stability. Regional cooperation is key to strengthening security across West Africa. Ensuring safety in the Sahel is not only vital for the region itself but also a crucial step toward global security.

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