Togo’s Terrorism Challenges
Togo’s Foreign Minister, Robert Dassy, recently reported in an interview that al-Qaeda’s affiliated group, Jamaa Nusrat ul Islam Wa al Muslimin (JNIM), has been responsible for at least 54 civilian deaths this year.
His comments to Reuters mark one of the few times government officials have openly acknowledged the increasing threats of terrorism in Togo. While jihadist movements linked to al-Qaeda have surged in neighboring countries like Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali—especially after these nations severed ties with Western governments and halted counter-terrorism operations—Togo had largely evaded similar violence until now.
In 2023, the “Alliance of the Sahel,” a group formed by three coup governments, has shown effectiveness in combating terrorist activities. Yet, it seems more focused on preventing threats to military rule rather than addressing the underlying issues of terrorism. This comes even as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has started to consider potential governance changes in Niger alongside the announcement of this Sahel alliance.
The Sahel region, located just south of the Sahara Desert, has long been a hotbed of instability and terrorism, exacerbated by factors like the aftermath of Western interventions in Libya. The chaos that followed the downfall of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi led to an influx of armed groups and challenges for regional stability, with the jihadist crisis in Mali emerging shortly thereafter.
In fact, ISIS also has two branches operating in the Sahel: the Islamic State of the Greater Sahara (ISG) and the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP).
JNIM comprises five factions loyal to al-Qaeda, which have become more violent since their formation in 2017. These groups skillfully utilize ethnic, social, and economic divides to recruit members and fund their operations through activities like smuggling and organized crime.
The group’s leader, Iyad Ag Ghali, is a former diplomat from Mali who hails from the Tuareg ethnic group. He and his second-in-command, Amadukofa of the Fulani people, have successfully engaged their respective communities in JNIM’s cause.
JNIM is now viewed as one of the most formidable and lethal extremist organizations on the continent, aiming to destabilize nations such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to establish an Islamic caliphate governed by strict interpretations of Sharia law. This brutal enforcement is evident in the areas they control.
While JNIM is particularly active and deadly in Mali and Burkina Faso, it has also launched hundreds of attacks yearly. For instance, an attack on a military base in northern Burkina Faso recently killed 50 soldiers. Following this, a JNIM spokesperson claimed that Togo’s border protection measures were provocations that prompted attacks on Togo’s military installations.
In response to JNIM’s escalating activities, Dassy stated that Togo has repositioned about 8,000 troops to the Burkina Faso border. He emphasized that his government is collaborating with the Burkinabe junta to combat terrorism.
This cooperation is vital, especially since Togo’s ties within ECOWAS are becoming strained with the military regimes in the region. Togo finds itself acting as a liaison between ECOWAS and the junta in the face of a shared threat from JNIM.
