Fault Lines Episode 463: Gas, Gold, and Guns: Terrorism in West Africa
Today, Les, Matt, Jeffrey, and Joshua examine the growing instability in West Africa as jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) expands its control across Burkina Faso and the Sahel. With the U.S. and France reducing their regional footprint, local governments are struggling to respond to the spread of terrorism, and Russia—through the Africa Corps—has stepped into the vacuum left behind.
How are terrorist groups like JNIM funding their operations, and what role does illicit finance play in undermining global sanctions? Can the U.S. afford to keep pulling back, especially with key diplomatic and aid positions still unfilled? And with natural resources fueling violence and extremism, are we ignoring an urgent front in global security that could soon come knocking on our own door?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/06/08/jnim-militants-west-africa-sahel-terrorism/
Follow our experts on Twitter:
@lestermunson
@WMattHayden
@joshuachuminski
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