How a stable West African nation descended into a decade of jihadist insurgency
Once a regional mediator, Burkina Faso has become a central theater for Sahelian violence. Since 2015, the country has faced a complex conflict involving al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, leading to mass displacement, military coups, and a fundamental shift in its international alliances away from traditional Western partners.
Burkina Faso’s current crisis is rooted in long-standing structural vulnerabilities. During the colonial era, development was concentrated in the south, leaving the northern Sahelian regions impoverished and with minimal state presence. Following independence in 1960, these disparities persisted. While the country maintained a reputation for stability under the twenty-seven-year rule of Blaise Compaoré, his 2014 ouster dismantled the informal intelligence and patronage networks that had previously helped manage regional tensions.
The insurgency gained momentum following the 2012 Tuareg rebellion in neighboring Mali, which allowed extremist groups to seize northern territory and establish cross-border sanctuaries. By August 2015, violence reached Burkina Faso. Militant organizations, including Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, exploited local grievances—particularly among marginalized Fulani communities—to recruit fighters and challenge state authority. These groups offered alternative justice systems in areas where the government was largely absent, while environmental pressures like recurring droughts exacerbated disputes between farmers and herders.
The conflict has devastated the nation, causing at least 20,000 deaths and displacing over 2 million people. The military, struggling to contain the violence, has faced accusations of extrajudicial killings and ethnic reprisals. This instability triggered two coups in 2022, installing military leaders who have distanced the country from France and sought closer security ties with Russia, Mali, and Niger. Despite these political upheavals and the mobilization of civilian defense volunteers, jihadist groups continue to exert control over large swaths of the country, leaving public services in ruins.
The nature of the violence has evolved significantly. Initially focused on military and police targets, the insurgency expanded to include the persecution of religious groups, including attacks on churches and the assassination of religious leaders. The conflict has also fueled intercommunal violence, as local militias and state forces have clashed with ethnic groups suspected of collaborating with militants. Today, the war remains a defining, unresolved challenge for the Sahel, characterized by a persistent cycle of insecurity and humanitarian crisis.
