The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) says that the epicentre of terrorism has shifted from the Middle East to the Central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa.
The GTI also said that the region now accounts for over half of all global deaths from terrorism.
This is just as Nigeria, with an overall score of 7.575, ranked eight out of the 163 countries with 145 terrorist incidents with 524 fatalities, 89 injuries and 147 hostages in 2023.
Along with Nigeria, sub-Saharan African nations of Burkina Faso ranked first, Mali three and Niger Republic 10.
The 2023 Global Terrorism Index Overall score, which is a composite measure of four terrorism indicators – incidents, fatalities, injuries and hostages over five-year weighted average – has Burkina Faso leading as the most terrorized nation with 8.572 score followed with Israel with 8.143, Mali, 7.998, Pakistan – 7.916, Syria – 7.89, Afghanistan – 7.825, Somalia – 7.814, Nigeria – 7.575, Myanmar – 7.536 and Niger (Republic) – 7.274.
The GTI report, which is a comprehensive study analysis of the impact of terrorism for 163 countries covering 99.7 per cent of the world’s population, is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) using data from Terrorism Tracker and other sources.
Accordingly, the key findings from the Global Terrorism Index 2024 report include the following:
- Deaths caused by terrorism increased by 22% to 8,352, the highest level since 2017.
- Attacks are more deadly as the number of terrorist incidents fell by 22% to 3,350, and number of countries reporting an incident fell to 50.
- In 2023, the US accounted for 76% of terrorism-related deaths in Western democracies, amid a 15-year low in incidents.
- The epicenter of terrorism has shifted out of the Middle East and into the Central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, which now accounts for over half of all deaths from terrorism.
- Burkina Faso suffered the worst impact from terrorism, with deaths increasing by 68% despite attacks decreasing by 17%.
- Iraq recorded the largest improvement in the last decade with deaths from terrorism falling by 99% since the 2007 peak, to 69 in 2023.
- The impact of terrorism has become increasingly concentrated, with ten countries accounting for 87% of total terrorism-related deaths.
- Over 90% of terrorist attacks and 98% of terrorism deaths in 2023 occurred in conflict zones, underscoring the strong link between conflict and terrorism.
