Transnational crime has become a defining feature of insecurity in the Sahel, where porous borders, fragile institutions, and persistent insurgencies converge. Criminal activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism financing sustain extremist groups while eroding governance and stability. The problem lies in the crime–terror nexus, where illicit economies provide both financial lifelines and logistical infrastructure for insurgent movements, creating self-reinforcing cycles of violence and displacement. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between transnational crime and insecurity in the Sahel. Its objectives are to identify major forms of crime, analyze their impact on violence and governance, and assess regional variations and responses. The study is significant as it contributes to global security scholarship and offers policy-relevant insights for actors such as the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, and the United Nations. The scope covers Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Senegal, and Northern Nigeria. Guided by the Crime–Terror Nexus Theory, the study employs a qualitative-descriptive methodology based on secondary data from UNODC, ISS Africa, OECD, and peer-reviewed sources. Findings reveal that crime hotspots overlap with insecurity zones, with illicit gold trade, drug trafficking, and migrant smuggling sustaining armed groups while weakening state institutions. Recommendations emphasize strengthening border governance, tackling corruption, disrupting extremist financing, providing socio- economic alternatives, enhancing regional cooperation, and promoting community engagement. The study concludes that dismantling the crime–terror nexus requires integrated strategies combining security, governance, and development to achieve sustainable peace and resilience in the Sahel.

Transnational Crime, Sahel Insecurity, Crime–Terror Nexus

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