Decreased operations, increased casualties: Terrorism index in Africa during October 2022

Africa was subjected to many terrorist attacks during the month of October 2022, the number of which reached 51, killing 351 people, executing six, wounding 556, and kidnapping 27 others, with a slight decrease in the number of operations compared to September, which amounted to 54 terrorist operations.

Death toll increased

The activity of terrorist organizations in the African continent during the month of October exceeded, in terms of the number of deaths and injuries, the average number of victims of terrorist operations in the third quarter of 2022 (July, August, September), in which the number of terrorist operations launched by terrorist organizations reached 138 operations, between bombings and assassinations, which resulted in the killing of 723 people and the injury of 457 others, in addition to 145 kidnapped and the execution of 35 people, as well as the expulsion and displacement of hundreds.

The reason for the increase in the number of casualties is due to the intensity of the confrontations between government forces and terrorist organizations. The armies of Africa, in cooperation with regional and international actors, are striving to confront terrorist elements and repel their attacks. There is also a struggle between terrorist organizations competing with each other for influence and leadership, as well as attempts to expand or at least preserve their gains.

Lion's share

East Africa, as usual, accounted for the lion's share of terrorist operations, with 30 operations, equivalent to 58.8% of the total number of operations carried out by organizations in the continent during the month. As a result of these operations, 237 people were killed, 441 injured, three kidnapped, and six executed.

Somalia had the largest share of the number of operations, as the terrorist Al-Shabaab movement carried out 26 operations, including an assassination, all of which led to the killing of 235, the execution of six, and the injury of 441, while Kenya, which is witnessing successive attacks, was subjected to two terrorist operations that led to the kidnapping of three, without any deaths or injuries.

In Mozambique, two people were killed as a result of two terrorist operations launched by terrorist organizations and rebel movements to take control of its gold mines to finance their armed operations.

It is noteworthy that the East African region witnessed about 50 terrorist operations, as a result of which 211 people were killed, 239 injured, three kidnapped, and 19 people executed in the third quarter of 2022. Somalia also had the largest share of the number of operations and the number of injured, as Al-Shabaab carried out 44 operations in the country, including two assassinations and one suicide attack, all of which led to the killing of 169, the wounding of 236, and the execution of 19 others.

Increased Al-Shabaab activity

The previous statistics confirm the increase in the activity of the Somali terrorist Al-Shabaab movement, despite the country's new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, pledging his country's commitment to combating terrorism, restoring security and stability in the country, drying up the sources of financing terrorism through the establishment of a financial intelligence unit, and preparing laws that contribute to controlling the smuggling of funds for the benefit of the extremist movement.

The African Sahel region came second in terms of the number of terrorist operations and the number of victims and injuries, as it witnessed 12 terrorist operations, 23.5% of the total number of terrorist operations, which resulted in the death of 76 and the wounding of 111.

The Republic of Burkina Faso comes at the forefront of the countries in the region that were subjected to attacks, with four terrorist operations that left 35 dead and 54 injured. Niger witnessed four operations that led to the deaths of 15 victims and the injury of two others, while Mali was subjected to three operations that resulted in 18 dead and 55 wounded. This confirms the relative decline in the number of operations and victims compared to the activity of terrorist organizations in the third quarter of 2022, when 46 terrorist operations were witnessed, which left 280 dead, 188 injured, and 62 kidnapped, of which Mali had the lion’s share of 24 terrorist attacks, as a result of which 172 people were killed and 79 others injured, in addition to the kidnapping of 12, while Burkina Faso was subjected to 19 operations, killing 102 people, injuring 95, and 50 kidnapped.

The Republic of Niger was also subjected to a single operation, during which six civilians were killed and 14 others were wounded, in addition to the execution of 11 people on charges of espionage for parties seeking to rein in the terrorists.

Central Africa in third place

Meanwhile, the Central African region ranked third in terms of the number of terrorist operations and the number of dead and wounded as well. During this month, it witnessed five terrorist operations launched by ISIS through its branch in Central Africa. This was equivalent to 9.8% of the total number of terrorist operations in the continent during the month.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is witnessing a serious security situation, came to the fore in terms of the number of deaths, injured and kidnapped, after witnessing 31 dead, two injured and 21 kidnapped, while Cameroon witnessed two terrorist operations that resulted in the kidnapping of three without any casualties or injuries, with a significant decline in the number of operations and victims compared to the activity of terrorist organizations in the third quarter of 2022, as it witnessed 27 terrorist operations launched by ISIS through its branch in Central Africa, resulting in 157 dead, 20 wounded, and 76 kidnapped. The Republic of the Congo had 25 terrorist operations, which confirms that it is witnessing a serious security situation, while Chad was subjected to one terrorist operation, in which two people were killed. Cameroon was subjected to a single, defenseless attack, without causing any casualties.

As for the West Africa region, which is known for the increasing activity of the terrorist organizations ISIS and Boko Haram, it ranked fourth in terms of the number of operations and the number of victims and injuries. It was subjected to four operations, all centered in Nigeria, resulting in seven casualties and two others injured, while it was subjected to 15 terrorist operations during the third quarter of 2022, all centered in Nigeria, resulting in 80 deaths, 10 injuries, and the kidnapping of four others.