Jihadist Threat Severely Hampers Vaccine Coverage in Sahel

Jihadist violence in the Sahel has severely disrupted vaccination efforts, leading to rising cases of measles and polio. Healthcare workers face attacks, kidnappings, and cold chain sabotage, while political instability has forced NGOs out. Experts warn of worsening disease outbreaks as immunisation rates drop across the region.

The ongoing jihadist insurgency in the Sahel has severely disrupted vaccination campaigns, leading to a rise in preventable diseases among children. Health workers in Mali, Chad, and Burkina Faso face significant risks while attempting to administer vaccines, as extremist groups often oppose immunisation efforts.

In central Mali, healthcare workers negotiating with jihadists initially faced resistance, as militants viewed vaccines as harmful. However, the worsening measles outbreak forced a change of stance, allowing vaccinations in some areas. Despite this, the broader Sahel region remains vulnerable due to instability, mass displacement, and damaged healthcare infrastructure.

A recent British Medical Journal Global Health study revealed alarming vaccination gaps, with 43% of children in Sudan, 22% in Mali, and 16% in Chad lacking immunisation. The rejection of vaccines by militant groups, often tied to anti-Western sentiment, has worsened the crisis.

Violence against healthcare workers has escalated, with humanitarian organisations like Doctors Without Borders suspending operations in conflict zones. In Niger, healthcare unions have reported kidnappings of nurses by terrorist groups to treat wounded fighters. The 2020 global aid worker abduction rate was highest in these regions, hampering medical assistance.

Political instability has further complicated the crisis. Military-led governments in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have expelled foreign NGOs and severed ties with Western humanitarian aid. The forced exit of the International Committee of the Red Cross from Niger in February 2025 further reduced access to essential healthcare services.

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As vaccination campaigns face severe disruptions, cases of measles, diphtheria, and polio are rising sharply. Chad recorded a fivefold increase in measles cases in 2023, while polio cases nearly tripled in Burkina Faso. Experts warn that the lack of immunisation will continue to fuel outbreaks across the region.