Security Consultant, Professor Kwesi Aning, has raised concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of the Sahel, warning of expanding terrorist influence and increasingly bold attacks, including two recent strikes on Niger’s airport.
Speaking at the 50th Republic Anniversary Lecture 2026 in Accra on Wednesday, July 1 themed “From Sahel to the Gulf: Violent Extremism and Maritime Insecurity in West Africa,” Professor Aning expressed worry over the deteriorating stature of the security landscape in the region despite ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
“Since the coup in Niger, civilian deaths have grown. Terrorist groups have taken over, with operations concentrated in the west and the southeast of the country. Attacks have escalated, targeting civilians and military personnel.”
Professor Aning further explained that although Niger announced a joint anti-jihadist force with Mali and Burkina Faso in 2025 under the AES framework to combat terrorism, the security situation remains fragile, with sustained military operations still ongoing, especially around the capital, Niamey.
“In 2026 alone, its airport has been attacked twice by Islamic State in the Sahel province,” he noted.
The security analyst warned that terrorist tactics are shifting from rural-based insurgency to more coordinated urban attacks, as armed groups increasingly target cities and strategic centres in their bid to control territory and influence populations.
He explained that unlike earlier patterns where terrorists were not interested in holding territory, the current trend shows a clear shift, with groups now attempting to govern captured areas and provide basic social services, a development he described as a serious challenge to state sovereignty.
He noted that these groups are employing coordinated raids, improvised explosive devices and multi-pronged assaults to seize weapons, fuel and vehicles, adding that humanitarian convoys have also come under attack, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in affected areas.
