The Role of the ‘African Diaspora’ in West African and Sahelian Security

For years, the headlines coming out of the West African sub-region and the Sahel have remained tragically consistent: escalating insurgencies, military coups, and a humanitarian crisis that refuses to abate. While the international community and regional governments have poured billions into military hardware and “boots on the ground” strategies, the fundamental security of the average citizen remains as fragile as ever.

As of early 2026, the security landscape in the West African sub-region and the Sahel states remains at a critical “breakpoint”. Terrorist groups like JNIM, ISWAP, and Boko Haram continue to expand their territorial influence, displace millions, and disrupt essential supply chains.

While world leaders and regional bodies like ECOWAS frequently debate these crises, there is a glaring absence of a central, citizen-driven “conveying point” that translates dialogue into actionable, non-military solutions.

Everyone is talking about the crisis, from outlets to the UN Security Council to local news but few are providing the necessary “conveying point” for the one group uniquely positioned to change the narrative: the African Diaspora.

The Missing Piece: A Dedicated Diaspora Forum

There is no shortage of analysis on the West African and Sahelian crisis, yet there is a glaring absence of a sustained, high-level platform where citizens of West African and Sahelian states living abroad can translate their global influence into local security solutions.

The Diaspora serves as a critical “offshore asset” with the financial capital, technical expertise, and political leverage to influence change.

Conveying dedicated forums and conferences is not just about networking; it is about creating a structured space to move beyond rhetoric. These forums must serve as a bridge between international policy and the lived reality of those in the Liptako-Gourma or the Lake Chad Basin. Without a central point for discussion, the Diaspora’s potential to find non-military solutions remains fragmented and underutilized.

Addressing the persistent insecurity in West Africa and the Sahel requires a paradigm shift from purely kinetic (military) operations to a holistic, community-centered approach.

I am happy to be part of ‘Three’ diaspora based organisations (Friends of West Africa in the West Network, 7aspect in the UK and the Civilizations Exchange & Cooperation Foundation in the United States) in conveying a conference, in the United States and United Kingdom, to discuss thoroughly the contributions and role of community and religious leaders in finding solutions to the insecurity menace in the West Africa sub-region and the Sahel States.

Our proposal outlines a strategy to tackle the root causes of banditry and instability through three pillars: 1. community-based surveillance, 2. robust intelligence sharing, and 3. intensified cross-border cooperation.

Prioritizing Non-Military, Community-Led Solutions

The limits of a purely military approach are now undeniable. True stability in the Sahel will not come from more drone strikes but from addressing the root causes: unemployment, climate-driven resource competition, and the erosion of social trust.

The Diaspora’s greatest contribution lies in championing community-led dealing. This means shifting the focus from top-down state security to empowering the people who live on the front lines.

Empowering Religious and Community Leaders: These figures hold the cultural legitimacy that states often lack. Sustainable peace cannot be imported; it must be cultivated from within. In many parts of West Africa and the Sahel, where state authority is weak or absent, religious and traditional leaders are the primary guardians of social order.

The focus of the diaspora conference is to prioritize the empowerment of these figures. Religious leaders hold the cultural legitimacy to counter extremist ideologies and mediate local disputes over land and water—clashes that are increasingly exacerbated by climate change.

Through this collaboration with these leaders, the diaspora can support initiatives that restore the “social contract” and provide a sense of belonging to youth who are otherwise vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.

Diaspora forums can provide the resources and training for these leaders to act as mediators and counter-extremism voices.

Elevating Women Leaders: Women are not just victims of conflict; they are essential agents of change. Women and girls often bear the heaviest burden of the West African and Sahelian crisis facing sexual violence and the loss of civic space.

However, they are also the first to notice signs of radicalization in their communities and the most effective at building cross-border peace networks.

Strengthening Civil Society: Civil Society Organizations are vital for bridge-building, but they require the sustained partnership of the Diaspora to advocate for governance reforms and human rights.

A New Architecture for Peace
The withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—from ECOWAS has fragmented the regional security architecture at the exact moment it is most needed.

In this vacuum of formal diplomacy, the diaspora can serve as a non-partisan “third space” where citizens from all across the sub-region can still collaborate.

Moreover, the governments and even community leaders of the AES do not trust some of the Governments of the developed countries.

It is time to move beyond the rhetoric of “counter-terrorism” and embrace the reality of “peace-building.” By convening regular, high-level conferences, the West African and Sahelian diaspora can transform from passive observers into the architects of a new, community-led security framework—one that values the pulpit and the marketplace as highly as the garrison.

A Call to Action: Collaboration for Resilience

The solution to the West African and Sahelian crisis is already present within its people. The role of the Diaspora is to amplify these endogenous strategies through collaboration.

Through partnering with religious and community leaders, civil society, and women-led organizations, the Diaspora can foster a “human security” approach that prioritizes food security, education, and job creation.

Key Strategic Focus Areas for Diaspora Forums:

Intelligence and Early Warning: Utilizing Diaspora networks to support local early warning systems.

Economic Alternatives: Funding youth entrepreneurship to reduce the appeal of recruitment by armed groups.

Dialogue over Defence: Creating spaces for reconciliation that include marginalized voices and traditional authorities.

The challenges are immense, but the solutions are already present in our communities. The diaspora is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between global policy and local reality.

God bless Africa and save it from the four evils of terrorism, separatism, extremism and poverty.

Alhaji Khuzaim Mohammed Osman
Eminent Member and Chairman of the Finance and Fundraising Committee, GARPC – The National Peace Council of Ghana.

Consultant in ADR, Human Rights, and Islamic Affairs.