An exploration of the interaction between Takfiri movements and fragile states(Case study Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger)

West Africa has been the scene of new international developments. With the start of coups against previous governments that were dependent on France since 2010, new developments have taken place in this region. Russia, with the aim of harming French interests in the three countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, fully supported the military coups in these countries. Finally, with Russia playing a key role in the three African countries, France’s withdrawal from these countries occurred in a domino effect. These events paved the way for cooperation between countries such as Russia, China, Turkey, and Iran with the three West African countries. Therefore, before any direct political, economic, and security cooperation, it is necessary and essential to understand the internal developments of these three countries. Since, geopolitically, the three countries share a common border and all three have had common social, political, economic, and security crises, an attempt has been made to analyze and evaluate all three countries in this study. The West African region, especially the countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, is like a powder keg that is exploding every day and at any moment. These countries suffer many human losses due to the activities of extremist groups. In a word, it can be said that this region is one of the most unstable regions in the world. Political, economic and social unrest has dimmed the prospects for peace, stability and development in this region. The countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are facing multiple crises. These countries suffer from poverty and unemployment, a young population, ethnic and tribal conflicts, fragile states, population growth (within 10 years, the population of this region will double) and food shortages. This painful reality has created a favorable environment for terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the region. Takfiri terrorist groups have created terrorist networks throughout this region; so that this region has become one of the most turbulent regions of the African continent in recent years.