Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the Sahel-Sahara Region of Africa: - Recommendations for stemming a long-lasting threat

This adds urgency to the need to clearly understand how the threat of FTFs can The upsurge of FTFs across the continent has be addressed; also as part of broader efforts been especially prominent in the Sahel and to prevent and combat terrorism and violent Central African regions, and more recently in extremism in the Sahel-Sahara. [...] Following a brief overview of the phenomenon and the factors that drive it in the In recent times, FTFs have established, Sahel-Sahara region, the policy paper examines sustained and expanded terrorism and state responses to addressing the challenge. [...] FTFs in the Sahel-Sahara region: an The increased number of returning FTFs, along overview with the elevated frequency of terrorist acts, represents a major challenge for national and The phenomenon of FTFs in the Sahel- regional security. [...] 3 Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the Sahel-Sahara Region of Africa: Recommendations for stemming a long-lasting threat Factors that motivate the flow and return of FTFs in the Sahel-Sahara Several factors account for the high number of FTFs in the region. [...] The The phenomenon of FTFs in the Sahel-Sahara AU should provide direction and leadership region is a complex phenomenon with grave through the ACSRT, AFRIPOL and Committee security and socio-economic implications for the of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa region and the rest of Africa.