Nairobi, 28 October, 2026 / 5:51 pm (ACI Africa).
Terrorist groups are expanding their reach across borders in the Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa, where they are driving the growing persecution of Christians, a new report byAid to the Church in Need(ACN) UK has established.
According to the report, “Persecuted and Forgotten”, released on Tuesday, October 27, groups linked to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda affiliates move freely across Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, making them difficult to contain.
The report highlights the four countries, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia, that have made a large part of Africa the “epicenter” of global terrorism, according to theGlobal Terrorism Index 2026.
The ACN report, reads, in part, “The countries most affected, especially Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger-contain significant Christian populations, often living alongside Muslim majorities.”
“Groups linked to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda affiliates (such as JNIM) have expanded rapidly across the Sahel and surrounding regions. These groups operate across borders, making them difficult to contain and increasing the regional spread of violence,” the report says.
