Role of West ‘African Diaspora’ in sub-regional, Sahelian security

As of early 2026, the security in the West African sub-region and the Sahel states remained critical.

Terrorist groups like JNIM, ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to expand their territorial influence, displacing millions and disrupting essential supply chains.

While world leaders and regional bodies, such as, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) frequently debate these crises, there is a glaring absence of a central, citizen-driven “conveying point” that translates dialogue into actionable, non-military solutions.

The diaspora serves as a critical “offshore asset” with the financial capital, technical expertise, and political leverage to influence change.

Conveying dedicated forums and conferences is not just about networking; it is about creating a structured space to move beyond rhetoric.

These forums must serve as a bridge between international policy and the lived reality of all Africans.

Without a central point for discussion, the Diaspora’s potential to find non-military solutions remains fragmented and underutilised.

Insecurity

Addressing the persistent insecurity in West Africa and the Sahel requires a paradigm shift from purely kinetic (military) operations to a holistic, community-centred approach.

Three diaspora-based organisations, Friends of West Africa in the West Network, 7Aspect in the UK, and the Civilisations Exchange & Cooperation Foundation in the United States, hosted a conference in the US and UK to discuss thoroughly the contributions and role of community and religious leaders in finding solutions to security challenges.

Proposals outlined a strategy to tackle the root causes of banditry and instability through three pillars: community-based surveillance, robust intelligence sharing, and intensified cross-border cooperation.

The limits of a purely military approach are now undeniable. True stability in the Sahel will not come from more drone strikes, but from addressing the root causes: unemployment, climate-driven resource competition, and the erosion of social trust.

Empowering leaders

Sustainable peace cannot be imported; it must be cultivated from within. In many parts of West Africa and the Sahel, where state authority is weak or absent, religious and traditional leaders are the primary guardians of social order.

The focus of the diaspora conference is to prioritise the empowerment of these figures. Religious leaders hold the cultural legitimacy to counter extremist ideologies and mediate local disputes over land and water—clashes that are increasingly exacerbated by climate change.

By collaborating with these leaders, the diaspora can support initiatives that restore the “social contract” and provide a sense of belonging to youth who are otherwise vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.

Women are not just victims of conflict; they are essential agents of change. Women and girls often bear the heaviest burden of security crises, facing sexual violence and the loss of civic space.

However, they are also the first to notice signs of radicalisation in their communities and the most effective at building cross-border peace networks.

New 

The withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—from ECOWAS has fragmented the regional security architecture. In this vacuum of formal diplomacy, the diaspora can serve as a non-partisan “third space” where citizens from across the sub-region can still collaborate.

It is time to move beyond the rhetoric of “counter-terrorism” and embrace the reality of “peace-building.”

By convening regular, high-level conferences, the West African and Sahelian diaspora can transform from passive observers into the architects of a new, community-led security framework—one that values the pulpit and the marketplace as highly as the garrison.

The writer is with the African Security and Development Forum (ASDEF)/Member & chair, Finance and Fundraising Committee, GARPC, National Peace Council.