NAIROBI, Kenya. March 20 –
- Burkina Faso had the largest increase in deaths globally in 2023 (1,907 deaths)
- Uganda recorded 42 deaths, 37 of those which occurred in an attack at Lhubiriha secondary school.
- Tanzania was the most improved, recording zero incidents for the second consecutive year.
- Burundi and Côte d’Ivoire recorded no incidents for the second year in a row.
- Rwanda which recorded no incidents for the fourth consecutive year.
Kenya recorded a fall in the impact of terrorism in 2023 compared to the previous year, moving from a high to medium impact country.
According to the Global Terrorism Index 2024, Kenya moved from a ‘High Impact’ with a score of 6.163 to ‘Medium Impact’ (5.616) according to incidents reported in 2023.
Kenya is however positioned 18 in the list of top 20 countries most impacted by terrorism. Burkina Faso is leading the group followed by Israel, both ranked at ‘very high’.
The ‘high’ impact category is led Mali, followed by Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia respectively. Other African countries under this category are Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Mozambique among others.
The GTI report further states that globally, deaths from terrorism rose from 6,701 in 2022 to 8,352 in 2023, representing a 22 per cent increase.
The deaths are now at their highest level since 2017, even though the number of terrorist attacks decreased to 3,350 from 4,321 attacks in 2022, representing a decrease of 23 percent.
“Terrorism attacks became more deadly in 2023 with 2.5 deaths per attack compared to 1.6 in 2022,” the report states.
Alshabaab has been found to be very active in East Africa and executed several attacks in Somalia in the latter part of 2023.
“Despite initial advancements, the Somali government faced notable setbacks in the latter part of 2023. These challenges led to Somalia’s request to the United Nations for a three-month postponement of the planned withdrawal of 3,000 African Union peacekeepers,” the report states.
In 2023, terrorism deaths attributed to alshabaab fell from 800 in 2022 to 499 in 2023, a decline of almost 38 per cent.
The Kenyan security agencies have attributed this improved ranking to the ongoing Multi-Agency Security Operations against the militants in Lamu and the North Eastern region.
Dozens of terrorists have been killed, their makeshift camps destroyed and some arrested and prosecuted.
“The government is committed to further reducing the impact of terrorism to guarantee security and prosperity. This will be achieved bearing in mind the modern security equipment the government has acquired for use by security agencies,” a senior official said.
The government said there are also deliberate efforts to invest in soft power approach to empower communities to work with security agencies especially through sharing information.
Additionally, the government is using development approach to deal with violent extremism and terrorism by investing in infrastructure and other economic projects like Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) corridor project to stimulate the economy across the country.
Of the 499 deaths attributed to Al-Shabaab in 2023, 86 per cent occurred in Somalia and the remaining 14 percent (70 deaths) occurred in Kenya.
Deaths in Somalia almost halved in 2023, driven by the success of the Somali government and allied forces’ operations.
Al-Shabaab’s deadliest attack of 2023 occurred in Shabeellaha Hoose when gunmen attacked an African Union army base with firearms and explosives, resulting in the deaths of 54 soldiers.
In Kenya terrorism deaths attributed to Al-Shabaab increased from 58 to 70 deaths in 2023. Most deaths occurred in Lamu (26 deaths), followed by Garissa and Mandera counties, which collectively recorded 37 deaths.
Both of the deadliest Al-Shabaab attacks in Kenya in 2023 involved roadside bombings, one targeting soldiers in Lamu and the other targeting police in Garissa, and most attacks were directed at the military.
Alshabaab have consistently utilised bombings and armed assaults as its main modes of attack. Over half of terrorism deaths attributed to Al-Shabaab in 2023 were the result of bombings, while armed assaults accounted for a further 25 percent of deaths.
Somalia also recorded a fall in the impact of terrorism in 2023, continuing a trend that began five years ago. There were 434 deaths and 193 incidents in 2023, a fall of 43 per cent and 37 per cent respectively compared to the previous year.
This reduction marked the second-largest global decrease in deaths and Somalia’s lowest death toll since 2015, largely due to reduced Al-Shabaab activity.
Al-Shabaab, Somalia’s most lethal terrorist group, was linked to 429 deaths, or 99 per cent of the country’s total terrorism related fatalities in 2023.
Within sub-Saharan Africa, The Sahel region -Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal -is the most affected region, accounting for almost half of all deaths from terrorism and 26 per cent of attacks in 2023.
Burkina Faso, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda had the largest increase in the number of people killed in terrorist attacks.
The 10 most fatal terrorist attacks in 2023
Burkina Faso had the largest increase in deaths from terrorism globally, with the number of terrorism deaths increasing to 1,907 in 2023.
Uganda experienced the second largest deterioration in GTI score in the region in 2023, after having recorded no attacks nor deaths in the previous year.
The country recorded 42 deaths, 37 of those which occurred in an attack at Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe town on 16 June.
Tanzania was the most improved country in the region in 2023, with the country recording zero incidents for the second consecutive year.
Burundi and Côte d’Ivoire also recorded no incidents for the second year in a row, and Rwanda which recorded no incidents for the fourth consecutive year.
The epicentre of terrorism has now conclusively shifted out of the Middle East and into the Central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa.
There were just under four thousand deaths from terrorism in the Sahel in 2023, or 47 per cent of the total. The increase in terrorism in the Sahel over the past 15 years has been dramatic, with deaths rising 2,860 per cent, and incidents rising 1,266 per cent over this period.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger account for most of the terrorism deaths in the region.
All three face uncertain futures, having suffered from coups, weak governance, and fragile relations with neighbouring countries, exemplified by their recent withdrawal from ECOWAS.
Terrorism has also been attributed to socio-economic factors such as youth unemployment, military expenditure, lack of confidence in the press and lower inequality-adjusted life expectancy.
Others are a history of internal violence, internal conflict, friction with neighbouring countries, and corruption.
Want to send us a story? Contact Shahidi News Tel: +254115512797 (Mobile & WhatsApp)
