themselves within communities

The groups expanded their footholds in the Sahel by opportunistically exploiting deep-seated state weaknesses, filling vacuums left by absent or ineffective central governments. This is particularly the case in rural areas plagued by corruption, chronic neglect and a lack of basic public services. They embedded themselves within communities through shadow governancestructures, providing these essential services, administering local justice, securing loyalties and forging local alliances. Until recently, they stuck to rural areas and supply routes, steering clear of major cities. As one analyst put it: “It’s a fight between two weaknesses: jihadist groups are either unable or unwilling to seize and hold large cities, while state forces remain incapable of fully reclaiming rural areas” โปรโมชั่น ufabet