Rising Jihadist Threat Looms in West Africa as U.S. Support Wanes**

The alarming spread of jihadist activity in West Africa's coastal regions threatens to destabilize the area, raising concerns among local and international authorities as U.S. engagement declines.**

In northern Ivory Coast, the aroma of commerce masks a deepening crisis. While families bustle about their daily lives, a sprawling jihadist threat emerges, particularly as insurgents from the Sahel region, emboldened by gains in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, expand their influence toward nations like Ivory Coast. The consequences are dire: according to recent assessments, the Sahel accounted for nearly half of global terrorism-related deaths in 2023.

Survivors like Makamoussa Ouattara, who escaped a 2021 attack during prayers at a local mosque, highlight the personal stakes involved. Lt. Gen. Michael E. Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, warns that jihadists are now concentrating efforts on gaining coastal access to facilitate operations through smuggling and arms trafficking, thus further endangering regional stability and even increasing risks to U.S. security.

The advancing insurgency poses an existential threat not only to the livelihoods of millions, but also to countries struggling with poverty and youth unemployment. As international support dwindles, particularly from the U.S. and Europe, regional officials express fears that as coastline access becomes a reality for insurgents, West Africa could quickly descend into chaos, with implications reaching beyond the continent.

In light of this escalating situation, local communities are caught in the crossfire. Most citizens remain unaware of the looming threats while trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst rising violence and displacement. The specter of jihadism not only jeopardizes daily life but could fundamentally alter the security landscape of West Africa in the years to come.