The Sahel region in Africa currently remains the world’s deadliest theatre for insurgency and terrorism, with recent incidents of flare-ups reported in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED). In July, al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front attacked multiple army positions across Mali. Niger’s Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey was attacked by insurgents twice this year. In response to the attacks, the military governments of the three countries formed the Alliance of Sahel States confederation in July. It also expanded military cooperation with Russia. The conflict involves sophisticated military tactics, including the use of drones, precision strikes and electronic warfare. The armed forces have significantly modernised their arsenal. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), they have diversified arms imports from Turkey, China, and Russia to acquire combat drones, armoured vehicles and aerial assets.Even though air power remains limited as compared to ground operations, it is becoming decisive during large counter-offensives. Contrastingly, JNIM and Islamic State Sahel Province remain lightly equipped, but have become more technologically capable. According to ACLED and the United Nations, insurgents now employ commercial quadcopters modified for reconnaissance and improvised explosive device (IED) delivery. Their primary weapons include AK-pattern assault rifles, PKM machine guns, RPG-7 launchers, and numerous seized weapons. IEDs remain the deadliest weapon. According to reports, Nigeria has also experienced a significant increase in insurgent violence this year. The lead picture showcases a Nigerian soldier holding a machine gun mounted on a military truck in Maiduguri, Nigeria, in late 2025. The next one features a soldier with an AK-103 assault rifle during Exercise Flintlock led by US Africa Command in Libya in April. These rifle versions are widely used in the region by both the insurgents and the three military juntas. The third picture displays the Chinese Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicle, used in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and counter-insurgency strikes in the Sahel region. The fourth picture reveals the Russian surface-to-air missile, a Soviet-era, mobile, medium-range system that continues to drive the aerial contest in the region. It is used by insurgents. The last picture presents the Nigerian Air Force’s A-29 Super Tucano aircraft firing machine guns, which Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have also commonly used in this clash.A Nigerian soldier on a military truck with a machine gun in Nigeria in November 20251 / 5
 "A Nigerian soldier on a military truck with a machine gun in Nigeria in November 2025")
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