Non-Governmental Organizations facing tension amidst military regimes and extremist groups in turbulent Sahel region
In the troubled Sahel region, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are finding themselves in a precarious position, facing accusations of espionage from military-led authorities and viewed as threats by jihadist groups. This dual pressure has escalated the risks for NGOs, severely complicating their humanitarian and development work in a region already suffering from escalating violence and deteriorating security.
The military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger often accuse NGOs of acting as spies, while jihadist groups view them as opponents or enemies. This hostile environment has resulted in increased attacks on NGOs, with at least 26 humanitarian workers killed in the Sahel in 2023, and many more wounded and kidnapped in 116 security incidents.
The need for humanitarian aid is high in these countries, with assistance being critical to nearly 15 million people in the central Sahel region, according to the United Nations humanitarian agency, OCHA. However, the escalating conflict has made it increasingly difficult for NGOs to deliver aid and support to vulnerable populations.
In Burkina Faso, one NGO member stated that their activities are currently suspended due to legal requirements. The International Committee of the Red Cross was also ordered to leave west Africa's Niger in February, accused of "collusion with terrorists". Doctors Without Borders (MSF) stopped working in the large northern Burkinabe town of Djibo due to attacks targeting its health centers and offices.
The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Islamist outfit affiliated with Al-Qaeda active in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, only allows NGOs to operate in areas under its control if they don't contradict religious principles. This means that NGOs are forced to operate under armed escorts by the juntas in the Sahel, but humanitarian workers believe this is mostly to monitor their activities.
In an effort to improve stability, regional and international peacebuilding efforts continue, but the environment for NGOs remains hostile. UN representatives have emphasized the importance of dialogue and inclusion among regional actors, but the military-led authorities in Mali plan to impose a 10-percent levy on funding for NGOs and associations for Mali's development.
Niger's junta has ordered NGOs to align their activities with its priorities, which include bolstering security, developing production centers, and promoting good governance. However, this has led to the withdrawal of operating licenses for French aid group Acted and a local association, Action for Wellbeing (ABPE), in November. Niger's Interior Minister General Mohamed Toumba accused "many NGOs" in Niger of carrying out "subversion missions" through "support they often provide to terrorists".
Despite these challenges, NGOs continue to work tirelessly to provide aid and support to those in need. However, the dangerous operational challenges they face, coupled with the hostile environment, leaves them dangerously caught "between juntas and jihadists," hampering their ability to deliver aid and support to vulnerable populations in the Sahel.
- In the Sahel region, NGOs are under threat not just from military-led authorities, who accuse them of espionage, but also from jihadist groups who view them as opponents.
- The hostile environment in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger has led to increased attacks on NGOs, with at least 26 humanitarian workers killed in 2023 and many more wounded and kidnapped.
- The need for humanitarian aid is critical in the central Sahel region, with nearly 15 million people in need, but the escalating conflict and hostile environment make it increasingly difficult for NGOs to deliver aid and support.
- Regional and international peacebuilding efforts continue in an attempt to improve stability, but the environment for NGOs remains challenging, with military-led authorities imposing levies and accusing NGOs of carrying out subversion missions.
