Africa Center Report: Sahel Recorded 9,928 Militant Islamist Violence Deaths in Past Year, 42% of Continental Total

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published its annual militant Islamist violence assessment on August 12, 2026, covering the 12 months ending mid-2026. The report recorded 9,928 fatalities linked to militant Islamist groups in the Sahel — more than any other African region and 42% of a continent-wide record of 23,872 deaths (up 77% from 13,507 in 2021 and nearly 150% from 10,002 in 2017). Within the Sahel, JNIM's coalition was responsible for an estimated 76% of regional fatalities, with ISGS/IS-Sahel accounting for roughly 1,842 deaths (19%). The Sahel has recorded nearly 49,000 deaths linked to violent extremism since 2022 and has been the continent's deadliest region every year since. The report cautioned that true tolls are likely undercounted given reporting restrictions imposed by the military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.