Sahel Lithium Boom Risks Opening New Revenue Streams for African Jihadist Groups

Sahel lithium boom risks opening new revenue streams for African jihadist groups

King’s College London researcher warns rapid lithium expansion in Mali, Nigeria and the wider Sahel risks creating new revenue streams for jihadist and criminal groups through informal mining, extortion and smuggling.

Sahel’s Lithium Boom Creates New Conflict Risks

The global shift toward electric vehicles and renewable energy is increasing demand for lithium, but the mineral’s growing importance could create new security risks across the Sahel. A study covering Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad found that jihadist and criminal networks—including Boko Haram and ISWAP—are taxing miners, controlling mine access, and exploiting weak […]