In 2025, leaders across West Africa and the Sahel escalated their crackdowns on civil liberties while consolidating political control, according to a comprehensive analysis by leading human rights organizations.
The Sahel region, already grappling with escalating armed conflicts, witnessed intensified violence as Islamist militant groups and government forces—often backed by international allies—targeted civilians and critical infrastructure. At the same time, military juntas in key Sahel nations have systematically undermined regional and international oversight bodies, further weakening accountability mechanisms for human rights abuses.
«Military leaders in the Sahel have doubled down on suppressing free speech and other fundamental rights, betraying promises of democratic transitions,» noted Mausi Segun, Africa director at a prominent human rights watchdog. «Regional and global stakeholders must unite to demand political space for citizens and uphold human rights protections in West Africa.»
Key human rights violations in 2025
The latest findings highlight a disturbing pattern of repression across the region:
- Niger and Mali extended their transition periods to five years and banned multiparty systems, while Chad abolished presidential term limits.
- Governments in Burkina Faso and Mali arbitrarily detained journalists, activists, and critics, often subjecting them to forced disappearances or illegal conscription. In Nigeria, authorities intensified arrests under cybercrime laws to silence online dissent.
- Boko Haram splinter groups resurged in Nigeria’s Borno State, while bandit gangs in the northwest continued deadly raids, kidnappings, and violence with impunity.
- Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) carried out massacres targeting civilians in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. State forces, including Wagner Group (now rebranded as Africa Corps), were implicated in extrajudicial killings of Fulani ethnic civilians.
- Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso accelerated their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and announced their exit from the International Criminal Court (ICC), severely undermining justice for abuse victims.
Regional response falls short
Despite the mounting crisis, regional bodies like the African Union have yet to take decisive action to protect civilians or hold perpetrators accountable. Human rights advocates urge stronger regional and international collaboration to counter the authoritarian surge and safeguard fundamental freedoms in West Africa and the Sahel.
