.jpg)
A new report on global terrorism has just been released, and it shows that the Sahel region in sub-Saharan Africa has become the epicenter of terrorist activity. The report, called the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2023, reveals that terrorist attacks in this region have increased by more than 2,000% over the past 15 years. Burkina Faso, in particular, is the most affected country in Africa and the second most affected country in the world. The country recorded a shocking 8,564 victims of terrorist attacks in 2022, making it the second most affected country in the world after Afghanistan.
According to the report, 22,074 people were killed in 6,408 terrorist attacks across the Sahel between 2007 and 2022. Most of the attacks were carried out by the Islamic State, Al-Shabaab, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, and the Baluchistan Liberation Front in West Pakistan. The report also reveals that civilians are the primary target of these attacks, with more than half of the 1,135 deaths recorded in Burkina Faso in 2022 being civilians. This marks a 50% increase in deaths compared to 2021, and civilians have been the target of terrorists for the fourth consecutive year.
The report highlights the Seytenga attack that took place on June 12, 2022, as one of the deadliest attacks in the world last year. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 116 civilians, and it is a stark reminder of the devastating impact that terrorism can have on innocent people. The report concludes that regions close to the borders with Niger, Benin, and Mali recorded 71% of all attacks in 2022, with 448 deaths recorded in the Sahel region.
Overall, the report shows that while global terrorist attacks fell by 28% in 2022 compared to 2021, the Sahel region remains a significant area of concern. As the number of victims of terrorist attacks in this region continues to rise, urgent action is needed to address this growing threat and protect innocent civilians from harm.
