Tactics Institute for Security & Counter-Terrorism is seriously alarmed at the new strategic role food is taking in sparking violent extremist movements in Africa. In a new briefing, the Institute is warning that food is not just an innocent victim of conflict anymore — it is increasingly becoming a weapon of war and of rule by terrorist groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria and Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
With increasing jihadist violence all over the continent, hunger-conflict connections have become more perilous and intricate. Not only are terrorist factions leveraging food insecurity, but they are also actively fostering it for the purpose of asserting control over civilian groups and subverting state power. This food weaponization worsens humanitarian crises, displaces vulnerable populations, and further entrenches instability cycles.
Food as a driver, tool, and target of terrorism
In areas of historical grievances and socio-economic marginalisation, militants have filled the gap left by non-performing governments. Boko Haram has allegedly distributed rice, spaghetti, and essential rations in some areas of Borno State, and Al-Shabaab has offered meals and aided agriculture in southern Somalia. These gestures are not charitable—they are designed to win over disenfranchised constituencies and build recruitment.
At the same time, both parties use harsh methods to exert control. Al-Shabaab has cut off humanitarian assistance, destroyed supply routes, and reprimanded communities that are working with government troops. Boko Haram has contaminated water supplies, burned crops, and prohibited farming in areas suspected of being allied with Nigerian security forces.
These moves unveil a strategy: food becomes an instrument of loyalty and punishment. This not only aggravates humanitarian situations but dissolves trust between civilians and institutions of the state, making it harder to counter terrorism.
Collapse of food systems undermines militants
Ironically, the survival of the militants themselves is now under threat from the crises that they have created. As food crops in their local region fail, both Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab are losing the capacity to sustain their fighters. There have been reports of jihadists surrendering to the authorities in return for food.
To oppose this, Boko Haram has ventured into raids in other neighboring states, and Al-Shabaab has fought against Somali pastoralist and farming militias. These events indicate an increased internal tension in terrorist networks but do not point to an end to the threat.
A call for coordinated, structural response
Tactics Institute calls upon African governments and the global community to embrace a more integrated and holistic strategy to counter-terrorism. Security practices must be complemented by measures to combat food insecurity, disparities within regions, and institutional failings that extremists feed upon.
Counter-terrorism strategies depend not only on military interventions. We need to construct robust food systems and ensure fair development in poor regions to break the attractiveness and operational capabilities of terrorist organizations.
