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N'DJAMENA, Chad: A senior UN official issued a stark warning earlier this month that terrorism and organized crime from violent extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Daesh are becoming a widespread threat in West Africa and the Sahel region.

This threat is now spreading to coastal countries in West Africa, suggesting that the world may be waking up too late to the unfolding crisis.

Statements by Leonardo Simao, the UN Special Representative for the Sahel and West Africa, highlighted an increase in illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons, mineral resources, human beings and even food.

In the first half of 2024 alone, hundreds of people died in terrorist attacks, reflecting a dramatic escalation in violence.

These developments underscore 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. As extremist groups tighten their grip, the humanitarian, economic and political consequences threaten to spread far beyond Africa's borders,” Chadian security expert Moustapha Saleh told Arab News.

The situation is further exacerbated by the recent political upheavals. The G5 Sahel, a French-backed alliance meant to coordinate security and development issues in West Africa, collapsed last year after the exit of the military junta-led nations of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

This prompted the US and other Western countries to assist Ghana and neighboring West African coastal nations in strengthening their defenses. Although Ghana has yet to experience direct militant violence, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast have experienced attacks near their borders in recent years, illustrating the growing threat of regional instability.

However, aid to West Africa has paled in comparison to assistance given to Ukraine, Ghana's President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said in a recent interview.

US aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion has risen to $113 billion. By contrast, combined EU, UK and US aid to the Economic Community of West African States, the bloc known as ECOWAS, amounted to a relatively small $29.6 million over the same period.

“Military regimes often struggle with legitimacy and resources, making them ill-equipped to handle the sophisticated and well-financed operations of extremist groups. The lack of international military support has left these nations vulnerable, and the consequences are getting worse,” Saleh said.

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 troops.

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

The human toll of this growing crisis is staggering. In the first six months of 2024, hundreds of civilians were killed in terrorist attacks. Communities are being torn apart and human displacement is reaching unprecedented levels. Refugee camps are swelling as people flee violence, leading to an urgent need for humanitarian aid.

Additionally, human trafficking is becoming a critical issue. Vulnerable populations are exploited, sold into slavery or forced into militant groups. Illegal emigration from West African countries to Europe via regular migration routes is on the rise.

Meanwhile, drug and arms trafficking not only funds extremist operations, but also fuels other violence, creating a vicious circle of instability.

The economic consequences are just as serious. A booming illegal trade in mineral resources, including gold, diamonds and other valuable commodities, is depriving nations of crucial revenue. Instead of funding development and infrastructure, these resources fund terror and crime.

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

“Broader economic instability discourages foreign investment and hinders development, further entrenching poverty and disenfranchisement,” Saleh said.

Until last year, global support for counter-terrorism in the Sahel region was significant, with contributions from various countries and organizations. The US has played a crucial role, with its drone bases in Niger and Burkina Faso and about 1,000 troops in the region.

France has been a prominent supporter through its military operations, such as Operation Barkhane, based in Chad and involving around 4,000 personnel at its peak. It was aimed at securing the region and fighting terrorism in partnership with local forces in Mali, Niger and Chad.

The EU Training Mission and the EU Capacity Building Mission also played a role until the wave of coups took the region by surprise. Consequently, it became impossible for Western governments to continue military cooperation with the hostile junta.

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

Terrorism and organized crime in these areas can destabilize entire continents, disrupt global trade and fuel mass migration. “There is also a risk that these extremist ideologies will spread beyond Africa, posing a security threat to other regions,” Amalkher said.

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 the pro-Western Gulf states, while already supporting counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa, need to reconfigure their strategies in light of the recent dissolution of the G5 Sahel.

Addressing this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach, experts say, stressing what they say is the need for a combination of immediate and long-term strategies.

“Immediate actions should include restoring military partnerships. It is essential that we restore and strengthen military collaborations with international partners, as this would provide the necessary support to local forces to effectively counter the extremist threat,” Lauren Mitchel, a security expert at the Washington Institute of Peace, told Arab News.

Humanitarian aid is also vital. Immediate and substantial assistance is needed to support displaced populations and provide basic necessities such as food, water and medical care.

In addition, strengthening border controls and international cooperation is critical to disrupting trafficking networks. This includes better information sharing and coordinated law enforcement actions.

Long-term solutions focus mainly on economic development and supporting projects that encourage self-sustainability.

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

Analysts have found that providing education and training to young people can help prevent their recruitment by extremist groups. Social programs that address poverty and disenfranchisement are vital to long-term stability.

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