Persistent extremist violence continues to plague Africa, with last year's Global Terrorism Index revealing the continent accounts for 48% of global terrorism deaths. Security expert Kabir Adamu warns that systemic governance failures are enabling militant groups to exploit vulnerable populations from the Sahel to Mozambique.
Roots of Instability
Beacon Security's Adamu identifies weak security sector governance as a critical catalyst: "Heavy-handed security forces and dysfunctional judicial systems create resentment that terrorist groups weaponize for recruitment." This pattern persists across hotspots like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria – three nations accounting for over 6,000 terrorism-related deaths in 2025 alone.
Resource Wars and Armed Proliferation
The report highlights how competition over gold, cobalt, and energy resources funds insurgencies. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, armed groups generate $1.2 billion annually through mineral exploitation. Meanwhile, Sudan's collapsing arms market now sells AK-47s for $100 – cheaper than basic smartphones.
Regional Impact
Mozambique's Cabo Delgado gas projects remain paralyzed by Islamist attacks, while Somalia's al-Shabaab continues destabilizing vital Red Sea trade routes. Adamu emphasizes that lasting solutions require "addressing governance gaps before military interventions" – a lesson yet to be implemented across most counterterrorism strategies.
