CLIMATE TERRORIST: Examining the role of Climate Change as root cause of Rising Terrorism in West Africa

The growing threat of Boko Haram and other violent extremists in West Africa has become a daily reality evidenced by bombings, kidnappings and horrible slaughter of innocents. Not only are they gaining sufficient roots but it is assuming a proportion and sophistication that far outpace the capabilities of conventional state security organisations to deal with them. From Kano to Gao , fundamentalist continue to unleash unjust and extreme interpretation of religion on civilians while weak, corrupt and inefficient governments struggle to provide sustainable protection for  them. Twice in a month, the leaders of ECOWAS have met in Accra to discuss among other things, the reality of terrorism as transnational and regional security problem.  Attention has been given to rising Islamist activities as a major cause. Others causes noted in countless literature include arms proliferation, weak governments and unsophisticated security apparatus to pre-empt and counter terrorist attacks. Some literatures even suggest that the rise terrorism in Africa is self-evident in our culture. That African culture is inundated by culture of violence that permeates the fabric of most African countries. Even though these reasons may hold true, they are largely immediate rather than root causes of terroris

Climate change and climate variability is the driver of terrorism in West Africa than anything else. Rising temperatures, shorter rainy seasons worsen by erratic rainfall and diminishing yields amplify completion for diminishing resources. In northern Nigeria where Bokko attacks and kidnappings are daily occurrences, rainfall reduced by 30% since the 1970s according to Imo Ekpoh in a 2011 study of climate variability in northern Nigeria.  With about 95% of agriculture in the region rain fed, a 30% reduction in rainfall exacerbated by persistent drought is a formula for disaster. Dry and lifeless land put more pressure on people. As livelihood sustainability become impossible they will look for ways out of their predicament, and when a cult leader or terrorist says, “Follow me”, they just might do so.

 Again climate change and climate variability accelerates environmental degradation as much as environmental degradation accelerates climate change.  Poor rainfall coupled with extreme weather events such storms and floods advances degradation of vegetation and consequently land cover and fertility. Reduced soil fertility directly impact for prices of foods and poverty in such an ecologically sensitive region. This is a straight sentence to poverty, deprivation and despair - excellent conditions for terrorist groups to cash in and recruit poorly educated individuals, to their sundry causes, people who are desperate to improve their lot in life.

In the final analysis, poverty, injustice, violent extremist and terrorism will continue to plague Africa in general and West Africa in particular for some time to come unless the root causes of diminishing resource, climate change and climate variability are addressed. Until West African leaders wake and adopt clear adaptation measures such as social protection and empowerment of the vulnerable. Some humanitarian efforts here, some military assistance there, some words condemning terrorist attacks, some words threatening large-scale military intervention, appear to be the extent of the West’s reaction, at least overtly, to the growing terrorist threat in West Africa. However, these act to reactionary rather than preventive.

While other nations can help, until all of West Africa’s leaders make a determined effort to mitigate the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation and build climate-resilient societies and economies, and improve social protection and justice, the region will continue serving as a breeding ground for terrorists.