Africa's Islamic Killing Fields: >200,000 Dead in Just a Recent Ten Year Period (2014 to 2023)

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Highlights of African Deaths By Islamic Jihadists (Data from AfricaCenter.org):

Fatalities linked to militant Islamist violence rose by 20 percent in the past year (from 19,412 in 2022 to 23,322)—a record level of lethal violence. This represents a near doubling in deaths since 2021.

83 percent of the reported fatalities have been in the Sahel and Somalia. The two regions saw 43 percent and 22 percent annual increases in the number of violent extremist-linked deaths, respectively.

DEATHS BY MUSLIMS PER YEAR IN AFRICA — APPROXIMATELY 150,000 DEAD FROM 2014 TO 2023 ALONE. TOTAL CASUALTIES NOT ESTIMATED.

 

Year 2023 ALONE

Recent Islamic Deaths/Killings SOMALIA

To understand the impact of Islamic-related violence in Somalia, consider the following statistics:

1. Deaths: Thousands have died due to militant attacks, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 since 2007.

    

2. Al-Shabaab Attacks: Al-Shabaab, the primary militant group, has conducted over 1,000 attacks in the last decade.

3. Displacement: Approximately 2.6 million people are internally displaced due to violence and instability.

4. Somalia saw a 22-percent increase in fatalities in 2023—reaching a record high of 7,643 deaths. Virtually all of this violence is attributed to incidents involving al Shabaab.

5. This represents a tripling of fatalities since 2020.

6. The majority of violent events (65 percent) and fatalities (77 percent) were linked to battles, reflecting the continued offensive led by the Somali federal government against al Shabaab.

7. Kenya experienced a doubling in the number of fatalities (279) resulting from violence with al Shabaab in 2023, primarily along the Somalia border. An estimated 96 percent of fatalities in this region are in Somalia, however.

8. The conflict, combined with drought and flooding, has resulted in 4.3 million people facing Crisis levels and above (IPC Phase 3+) of food insecurity in Somalia.   

 

Recent Islamic Deaths/Killings SUDAN

To understand the impact of violence in Sudan, particularly related to Islamic killings, consider the following statistics:

1. Over 300,000 people have died due to the conflict since 2003.

2. Approximately 2.5 million people are displaced within Sudan.

3. Reports indicate that thousands of civilians have been targeted in ethnic violence.

4. Human Rights Watch documented over 1,000 killings in specific incidents in recent years.

5. The UN estimates that around 6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

6. Armed groups, including militias, have been implicated in numerous attacks against civilians.

Recent Islamic Deaths/Killings NIGERIA

Fifty five thousands (55,000) Innocents Murdered by Islamist Jihadists — just in the recent 4 years period ending in 2023:

1. A report by The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA) covering October 2019 to September 2023 states that ~55,910 people died in “ethnic and religious violence” in Nigeria — of those, ~30,880 were civilians. ACI Africa

   • Among the civilians: ~16,769 Christians killed; ~6,235 Muslims; ~154 adherents of traditional African religions; ~7,722 victims’ religion unknown. ACI Africa

2. A separate research report by International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) gives that between July 2009 and April 2023, ~52,250 Christians were killed for non-violent Christian affiliation (i.e., killed while professing Christianity) and ~34,000 “moderate” Muslims similarly targeted. Total ~85,250. Intersociety+3Intersociety+3ACI Africa+3

3. For 2025 (Jan 1–Aug 10), Intersociety reports ~7,087 Christians killed and ~7,800 abducted for being Christians. ACI Africa+1

4. According to another source, between October 2019 and September 2024: 66,656 deaths (civilians + others) in Nigeria; of those civilians (~36,056) more than half were in Christian-vulnerable communities; the ratio given was 2.4 Christians killed for every Muslim in that period.

Recent Islamic Deaths/Killings NIGER

 

From Niger’s Escalating Jihadist Violence and Humanitarian Crisis:

The Sahel region, a vast expanse of land stretching across Africa, has become a hotbed of violence and instability. Jihadist groups, including the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), are escalating their attacks, particularly in Niger. Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently released a report detailing a disturbing increase in attacks on civilians by Islamic State-affiliated militants in Niger (africanews.com). These groups exploit weak state presence and inter-ethnic tensions to expand their influence and launch brutal attacks on both military and civilian populations (studies.aljazeera.net).

Civilian Fatalities in Niger: 770 Under Democratic Rule and 1,599 Since July 2023 Coup

The situation has worsened significantly since the July 2023 coup in Niger. Jihadist violence has more than doubled in the 18 months following the coup, with approximately 1,599 deaths reported, compared to 770 under democratic rule (genocidewatch.com). This alarming increase highlights the junta’s failure to curb the surge in attacks. In fact, the junta’s inability to counter jihadist operations, coupled with its expulsion of Western media, has obscured the true extent of this devastating crisis (genocidewatch.com).