Terrorism
Terrorism is the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, to achieve political, religious or ideological objectives. It encompasses a range of tactics including bombings, armed attacks, kidnappings, assassinations and cyber-attacks designed to create fear and coerce governments or societies. Terrorist acts are typically carried out by non-state actors such as militant groups, though state-sponsored terrorism also occurs. The phenomenon has global reach, affecting developed and developing nations alike, with particular intensity in regions experiencing political instability, ethnic conflict or resource competition. In Africa, terrorism manifests through groups such as Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin, al-Shabaab in East Africa and various affiliates of al-Qaeda and Islamic State across the Sahel. These organisations exploit weak governance, porous borders and socioeconomic grievances to recruit fighters and establish territorial control. Counterterrorism efforts involve military operations, intelligence sharing, border security, deradicalisation programmes and addressing underlying drivers such as poverty and marginalisation. The economic impact of terrorism is substantial, disrupting trade, deterring investment, displacing populations and diverting public resources toward security expenditure. International frameworks including United Nations Security Council resolutions and regional bodies such as the African Union provide coordination mechanisms for combating terrorism. Definitions of terrorism vary across jurisdictions, complicating legal prosecution and international cooperation, though most legal systems criminalise acts intended to intimidate populations or compel governmental action through violence.
Terrorism Updates
Industrial-scale meth production poses new security risks for Nigeria
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 3rd June 2026 Southwestern Nigeria has largely been spared major security threats – now it faces a troubling convergence of drugs and terror. Nigeria’s National... →
Will the US-Nigeria targeting of ISWAP’s deputy weaken terrorism?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 27th May 2026 International and local experience shows that targeted leader killings tend to have more symbolic than practical impact. The joint Nigerian-United... →
Kremlin says Russian forces will stay in Mali 'to fight extremism'
By: Reuters 30th April 2026 The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russian forces would stay in Mali to help the country's military-led government battle insurgents following a... →
Digital radicalisation in Senegal: early warning of an evolving terror threat
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 15th April 2026 As the risk of jihadist influence grows in southeastern Senegal, the digital dimension must be integrated into terrorism prevention strategies. On... →
Why the US can destroy terrorist camps in Nigeria, but not terrorism – security scholar
12th February 2026 US military airstrikes on Islamic State-linked militants in north-western Nigeria on Christmas Day 2025 attracted global attention. The focus was... →
Nigeria charges nine with 2025 massacre that killed 150
By: Reuters 2nd February 2026 Nigerian prosecutors filed 57 terrorism-related charges on Monday against nine men accused of carrying out a deadly attack on Yelwata community in... →
Nigeria has a high poverty rate – what this has to do with ethnic conflicts
7th January 2026 Nigeria has endured decades of violent insurgencies and ranks 6th on the 2025 Global Terrorism Index. Numerous people have been killed and-millions... →
Two years on, UNSCR 2719 on peace operations remains at a crossroads
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 15th December 2025 The United States of America’s (US) retreat from multilateralism has put the financing of multinational peacekeeping to the test. This is most... →
Pragmatic or principled? The AU’s security dilemma in the Sahel
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 15th December 2025 Responding to growing terror threats and prioritising the restoration of constitutional order are often competing imperatives in countries going... →
Are Christians Persecuted? Well, It’s Complicated
By: South African Institute of International Affairs 12th December 2025 US President Donald Trump’s comments on Christian persecution in Nigeria highlight a sensitive issue, but religious violence is complex and demands... →
 |
 |
1 |
 |
 |
