A progressive deterioration of the security situation in the northern regions of West African coastal countries is observed. Between October 2022 and January 2023, more than 73 violent incidents involving mostly non-state armed groups have been reported in the northern regions of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
These incidents included attacks on civilians and security forces, kidnappings, the destruction of property, and the use of improvised explosive devices. Benin is the country recording the highest number of attacks by armed groups, followed by Togo. In Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, the attacks are on a smaller scale given a still-low presence of armed groups, but these are becoming more regular.
The violence has started to trigger internal displacement in Benin and Togo. In Benin, at least 1,200 IDPs have been reported in the department of Atakora, while in Togo, more than 2,200 IDPs are registered in the region of Savanes.
Armed group activity in the northern regions of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo has not seemed to affect food insecurity levels, as the number of food-insecure people remained stable between October–December 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.
(Africanews 28/12/2022, ACLED accessed 13/03/2023, VOA 09/02/2023, Togoweb 14/02/2023, GRANIT 30/11/2022)
A progressive deterioration of the security situation in the northern regions of West African coastal countries is observed. Between October 2022 and January 2023, more than 73 violent incidents involving mostly non-state armed groups have been reported in the northern regions of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
These incidents included attacks on civilians and security forces, kidnappings, the destruction of property, and the use of improvised explosive devices. Benin is the country recording the highest number of attacks by armed groups, followed by Togo. In Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, the attacks are on a smaller scale given a still-low presence of armed groups, but these are becoming more regular.
The violence has started to trigger internal displacement in Benin and Togo. In Benin, at least 1,200 IDPs have been reported in the department of Atakora, while in Togo, more than 2,200 IDPs are registered in the region of Savanes.
Armed group activity in the northern regions of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo has not seemed to affect food insecurity levels, as the number of food-insecure people remained stable between October–December 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.
(Africanews 28/12/2022, ACLED accessed 13/03/2023, VOA 09/02/2023, Togoweb 14/02/2023, GRANIT 30/11/2022)
