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This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the interconnected dynamics of violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and local conflicts in the Liptako-Gourma region, spanning Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Based on approximately 800 interviews, the study argues that extremist groups are pragmatic actors that exploit local economic vulnerabilities, governance failures, and community tensions to sustain their operations and expand their influence.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies challenges the conventional narrative that youth unemployment and religious fanaticism are the primary drivers of young people joining armed jihadist groups in Mali. Based on interviews with 63 previously involved youths, the study identifies a complex interplay of 15 different factors—including protection, coercion, and state absence—and argues that generic 'radicalisation' frameworks often miss the local realities of engagement.