Part 14/16:
Analysis highlights that factors such as chronic poverty, governmental corruption, and a burgeoning youth population are combining to create a fertile ground for extremist ideologies to flourish. With more than 80% of the Sahel's population living below the poverty line, many young individuals see joining jihadist groups as both a means of survival and an avenue to challenge abusive governmental structures.
The geopolitical landscape has become further complicated by recent military coups in countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which have normalized the presence of armed groups as authorities struggle to exert control. In the absence of local governance, jihadist factions present their violent methods as extensions of stability, drawing in disaffected youth.