Terrorist challenges in the Sahel and NATO’s southern flank
Terrorist challenges in the Sahel and NATO’s southern flank

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to analyse the growing security threats in the Sahel region and their impact on the stability of the North Atlantic Alliance’s (NATO) southern flank. The authors adopt the thesis that the increasing presence of armed groups and the activity of terrorist organisations, primarily the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, are leading to escalation of violence, political and social crisis, which consequently threatens international security, particularly in Europe and NATO countries. The article is based on the author’s analysis of the report, a review of the available literature and complementary sources, including reports from journalists and experts specialising in the Sahel region. A research query was conducted, which formulated four key questions concerning the causes of conflict escalation, the impact of interventions and withdrawals of international forces, the role of external actors (Russia and China among others) and the effectiveness of NATO and European Union actions. The analysis showed that these challenges require a comprehensive, long-term international strategy, combining military actions with political reforms and the region development support, while at the same time taking into account threats not only in the southern, but also in the eastern NATO’s flank.

• Details
• Contents