Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries in Africa 2024: A Ranking of Danger Zones

Terrorism threatens Africa in numerous ways, impacting people’s lives, the continent’s stability, and its potential to prosper. In recent years, a few African countries have been hit by the scourge of terrorism, with several extremist organisations spreading fear and instability. Terrorism in Africa has had a severe and far-reaching impact, claiming many lives and limiting socioeconomic growth.

According to the 11th edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) by the Institute for Economics & Peace, terrorism has a greater impact in Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, and South Asia than in other regions. In 2023, these three regions accounted for 94% of all terrorism-related deaths, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for little less than 59% of all deaths.

“The epicenter of terrorism has now definitively migrated out of the Middle East and into the Central Sahel region of Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2023, terrorism killed just under 4,000 people in the Sahel, accounting for 47% of total deaths. The analysis highlights a significant surge in terrorism in the Sahel region over the previous 15 years.

Terrorism has a major socioeconomic impact in Africa. In addition to the loss of life, terrorist attacks impair critical services such as healthcare, education, and access to clean water. Displacement caused by insecurity and violence exacerbates poverty and food insecurity, driving already vulnerable populations into further hardship.

Furthermore, terrorism discourages foreign investment and slows economic progress. The instability and insecurity caused by terrorist actions create an adverse business climate.

The Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global terrorist Index identifies the ten African countries with the greatest terrorist rates, as reported.