This article analyses the historical drivers of violent extremism in the African Sahel, focusing on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. It examines how historical factors have evolved to nurture a plethora of violent extremist organisations (VEOs) operating in the region, making it the epicentre of violent extremism in 2023. These historical factors include the influence of religion, Tuareg rebellions (1963, 1990 and 2012) in Mali, the spillover effects of the Algerian Civil War of 1992, the impact of the Libyan crisis in 2011 and the Fulani crisis in Central Mali. The study argues that historical drivers of violent extremism in the African Sahel have been inactive for decades and recently triggered by contemporary factors such as governance failures. The article is based on in-depth Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and the analysis of secondary sources. The findings of the study reveal that historical drivers of violent extremism in the African Sahel have persisted thanks to oral tradition and the use of information and communication technology (ICT), which has kept extremist ideologies alive from one generation to another. Therefore, strategies to counter violent extremism in the region must mainstream de-radicalisation with alternate narratives, education, good governance, and economic development, instead of a military combat-dominated strategy.

Keywords: Violent Extremism, Historical Factors, Violent Extremist Organisations, and African Sahel