Burkina Faso loses half its territory to militants; Ghana’s peace stability at risk as some militants find refuge in Northern Ghana.
Burkina Faso has reportedly lost control of over half its territory, as the pro-al Qaeda group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) continues to expand its presence across the region.
A recent report by Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, suggests Ghana may have engaged in a de facto non-aggression pact with JNIM, based on information from high-ranking government sources. According to experts, however, such a stance could allow militants to establish a foothold in Ghana, potentially threatening the country’s security.
Kars De Bruijne from Clingendael highlighted recent instances where JNIM or its associates have likely operated within Ghana. “And we did see a number of incidents where JNIM is, or JNIM associates are likely present in Ghana for some time, temporarily passing by, making procurements, sometimes trying to do recruitment. And so, that is really serving as a wake-up call.”
With elections set for December 7, Ghana aims to maintain stability and prevent any disruptions from extremist groups. The country, known for its strong democratic institutions and close ties to Western nations, is determined to avert potential attacks. “Ghana wants to really make sure that they can have their elections, that there are no attacks. They know, of course, of the risks that they have in Ghana and know what extremists are capable of, and they really want to prevent that,” the report states.
Meanwhile, the report suggests that JNIM itself would likely avoid conflict with Ghana’s well-prepared military. “JNIM, at the same time, they’re going to face, then, a really committed, really strong army, I’d say. And, I mean, they don’t want to attack their own supply line and their safe haven,” De Bruijne added.
The situation is further complicated by Ghana’s nearly 400-mile border with Burkina Faso, increasing the risk of potential spillover of instability from its northern neighbor.
