Littoral West Africa Security Incidents - April 2023

Monitoring security and stability in northern Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin

Jihadist incidents in Littoral West Africa, March 2023

14 North is actively monitoring Littoral West Africa, specifically the northern regions of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin, to assess the impact of rising insecurity on stability and investment risks in the region. Through our on-the-ground network and analysis of open-source information, we observed multiple violent incidents in April 2023 that indicate a growing threat of jihadism spillover from the Sahel. These included:

• Four incidents in Benin, including the kidnapping of over 30 people and 1,000 oxen by Jihadists near the Benin-Togo border.

• President Alassane Ouattara announced the establishment of two transit sites to accommodate over 18,000 refugees from Burkina Faso fleeing jihadist violence in Côte d’Ivoire.

• Escalating tension between the Mamprusi and Kusasi in Ghana resulted in casualties, economic decline, and jihadist threats. Due to the escalation of violent events, a curfew was imposed in Bawku, Ghana, from 18:00 to 6:00.

• Four incidents in Togo, following a 12-month state of emergency declaration in the Savannah region.

International and Regional Developments

Rwandan President Paul Kagame met with Benin’s President Patrice Talon on 15 April, pledging military assistance to help Benin address potential jihadist spillover from Burkina Faso. Possible forms of cooperation include supervision, coaching, training, and joint deployment.

Noteworthy Reading

Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe revealed in a New World TV interview on 27 April that about 40 soldiers and 100 civilians were killed in recent years due to jihadist activity in northern Togo. He attributed the violence to two terrorist groups, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims. He expressed confidence in eventual victory and noted the establishment of a committee for deradicalization and preventing violent extremism.

A Singapore-registered oil tanker hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea on 10 April was recovered and brought to the Abidjan port in Côte D’Ivoire. The tanker was initially captured about 300 nautical miles off Côte D’Ivoire with 20 crew members of various nationalities.