Lack of jobs eclipses religious ideology as the main driver of violent extremism in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Among nearly 2,200 interviewees, one-quarter of voluntary recruits cited job opportunities as their primary reason for joining, a 92 per cent increase from the findings of a groundbreaking 2017 UNDP study.

Religion came as the third reason for joining, cited by 17 per cent - a 57 per cent decrease from the 2017findings, with a majority of recruits admitting to having limited knowledge of religious texts.

Nearly half of the respondents cited a specific trigger event pushing them to join violent extremist groups, with a striking 71 per cent pointing to human rights abuse, often conducted by state security forces, as 'the tipping point'.

Sub-Saharan Africa has become the new global epicenter of violent extremism with 48% of global terrorism deaths in 2021. This surge not only adversely impacts lives, security and peace, but also threatens to reverse hard-won development gains for generations to come.

'Sub-Saharan Africa has become the new global epicenter of violent extremism with 48% of global terrorism deaths in 2021. This surge not only adversely impacts lives, security and peace, but also threatens to reverse hard-won development gains for generations to come,' said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

About the Report

'Journey to Extremism in Africa: Pathways to Recruitment and Disengagement,' builds on UNDP's groundbreaking 2017'Journey to Extremism in Africa: Drivers, Incentives, and the Tipping Point for Recruitment'.

This report is part of a series of three reports on the prevention of violent extremism, including an analysis of the latest dynamics of violent extremist groups in Sub-Saharan Africa and recommendations for specific development actions.

It draws from interviews with nearly 2,200 people in eight countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan.

More than of the 1,000 interviewees are former members of violent extremist groups, both voluntary and forced recruits.

Mr. Steiner added: 'Security-driven counter-terrorism responses are often costly and minimally effective, yet investments in preventive approaches to violent extremism are woefully inadequate. The social contract between states and citizens must be reinvigorated to tackle root causes of violent extremism.'

'Journey to Extremism in Africa: Pathways...