How to Manage Heightened Militancy Activity Across Sahel

As deepening crises arise across the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the organisational impact and need for robust workforce security measures have heightened. In August 2025, our security team raised the risk rating to extreme for certain high-risk areas in Mali. As detailed in our July 2025 Insight Report, developed by our security intelligence experts, the escalation of terrorism and violent extremism is not only reshaping the security landscape but also redefining the organisational approach to workforce safety and operational continuity.

The Expanding Threat Landscape

Since the coups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, militancy across the region has steadily increased, with each country experiencing a degradation within its security environment. Militant groups such as the Islamic State Greater Sahel (ISGS) and al-Qaida-affiliated JNIM are expanding their reach. This is particularly present in high- and extreme-risk areas, and increasingly encroaching on medium-risk zones, including the outskirts of capital cities like Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou. These groups are:

• Targeting civilians, security forces, and foreign nationals 
• Engaging in sieges and blockades, especially in agricultural and mining regions 
• Exploiting political instability following military coups, the withdrawal of French forces and the departure of Sahelian states from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 
• Using propaganda and disinformation to fuel recruitment and exploiting anti-government sentiment to assume leadership over communities 

This volatile environment has led to a surge in attacks, kidnappings, and forced displacements—directly impacting organizations operating in or near these regions. 

In Mali, the expansion and entrenchment of militant groups have caused us to change the risk rating from high to extreme for regions like Segou, Sikasso, Kayes and Koulikoro. Our security experts expect militant activity and attacks to persist and further expand over the course of 2025.  

Implications for Organizations and Their Workforce 

1. Increased Exposure to Security Threats

Foreign nationals and local staff are increasingly at risk of:

• Kidnap-for-ransom 
• Ambushes and armed assaults
• Explosions and attacks on transport routes
• Disruption at security checkpoints

Our security analysts predict attacks on foreign nationals are likely to rise, especially as militants use these incidents to inspire further violence through online propaganda. 

As of August 2025, we recommend deferring all travel to extreme-risk areas of Mali due to the credible risk of militancy, and recommend deferring non-essential travel to its high-risk areas. Essential travel requires a comprehensive, profile-specific pre-trip risk assessment and professional 24/7 security support, including access to secure accommodation, a viable evacuation and stand-fast plan, and clearly defined escalation triggers for evacuation and suspension of movement. Contact us to get a tailor-made solution from our security experts.

2. Operational Disruption

Increased militancy in high-risk and extreme-risk areas will disrupt:

• Supply chains
• Access to critical infrastructure
• Mobility of personnel

How to Implement an Effective Risk Management Strategy to Address Increased Militancy 

The Sahel’s security environment is expected to deteriorate further in the coming months. Security risk management is no longer optional for organizations embedded there to ensure operational continuity and personnel safety. In our latest insight report, our security analysts outline a comprehensive approach to mitigating these risks:

A. Workforce Preparedness

• Heightened vigilance around potential targets such as markets and transport hubs
• Robust communication plans for incident response and secure movement
• Shelter-in-place provisions including food, water, and medical supplies

B. Training and Scenario Planning

• Kidnap and ambush preparedness training
• Table-top exercises to test crisis response and communication protocols
• Clear escalation plans for adjusting travel, movement, and security measures

C. Intelligence and Monitoring

• Continuous monitoring of developments via International SOS alerts and local intelligence
• Timely communication of verified information to prevent mis / disinformation 
• Regular reassessment of the necessity for travel or presence in high-risk areas

For more information on how we can support your operations in the Sahel region, get in touch with us now.