Jihadists Turn Coastal West Africa Borderlands Into Strongholds

The tri-border region of Nigeria, Benin and Niger is becoming a new stronghold for jihadists, as militants turn forests and pastoral networks in West Africa into bases for recruitment and international attacks.

No longer just an offshoot of the Sahel’s unrest, fighters linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have entrenched themselves in Benin and Nigeria, signaling a growing jihadist presence, according to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a non-profit that tracks political unrest globally. Violent incidents jumped 86% and fatalities more than tripled in the tri-border zone in 2025, compared with the year before.