In January 2025, West Africa experienced a significant escalation in security challenges, with insurgency, terrorism, and intercommunal violence reaching critical levels. The majority of conflict-related fatalities—96.8%—occurred in Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Benin, driven by intensified jihadist attacks and deepening instability. Groups such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and ISIS Sahel expanded their operations by exploiting weak governance structures and porous borders, leading to large-scale attacks, mass casualties, and widespread displacement.

The crisis is increasingly transnational, with violence spilling into previously stable countries like Benin, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced regional security cooperation. Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency in the Northeast and widespread criminal violence in the North West and North Central regions. Meanwhile, governance failures, corruption, and a lack of coordinated counterterrorism efforts have allowed militant groups to entrench themselves further.

Beyond the immediate security concerns, the humanitarian consequences are severe, with rising displacement, food insecurity, and restricted humanitarian access. Without decisive policy interventions, the region faces prolonged instability. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving security landscape, key actors, and geopolitical implications while offering policy recommendations to enhance intelligence-sharing, counterinsurgency efforts, and civilian protection mechanisms.