Women's Involvement in Sahel Jihadist Insurgency: Exploring Motivations and Roles

Abstract

 The involvement of women in jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel region is a
complex and multifaceted phenomenon. This paper investigates the various motivations that drive women to participate in these insurgencies, ranging from ideological commitment, social status, pursuit of security, marital obligation, and a sense of belonging in the midst of prolonged conflict. It also examines the diverse roles women undertake within these movements, including domestic support, recruitment, intelligence gathering, and inciting men to join the fight. Understanding these motivations and roles is crucial for developing effective strategies to prevent and counter women's involvement in jihadist activities, and for providing alternatives and empowerment opportunities for women in the region. The paper adopts the Feminist Security Theory as explanatory framework for the participation of women in jihadi organisations. Using a desktop review of secondary sources, it concludes that though women play diverse roles in jihadist organisations in the Sahel, they are more of supportive roles and less of combat.