Violence and terror – thousands of schools in Africa cannot open – News


Contents

The insecure situation in the Sahel is devastating for children. Burkina Faso is particularly affected by the phenomenon.

What is it about? In Central and West Africa, more and more schools remain closed due to terror and insecurity. According to the UN and private aid organizations, around 13,200 schools in the countries of the Sahel region are now affected. Accordingly, the number of closed schools in the region has doubled in the past four years due to uncertainty. This puts the education of 2.5 million children at acute risk, according to Unicef ​​and the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Terror in the countries of the Sahel region


Open the box
Close the box

Armed groups are active in numerous countries in the Sahel region, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Sudan and Djibouti in eastern Africa, some of which have sworn allegiance to the terrorist group “Islamic State” or the terrorist network Al-Qaeda. The governments of the affected countries have so far tried in vain to push back the jihadists. In some countries, armed groups control entire parts of the national territory.

Why are schools closing? One reason is the rampant violence by armed groups. This year alone, 147 attacks on schools in Central and West Africa have been reported. Sometimes schools are confiscated and occupied by terrorist groups, because in many places a school building is the only larger, fortified building, says SRF Africa correspondent Samuel Burri: “A school is a symbol of the state that terrorists see as hated – that’s why it is attacked.”

This is how a typical robbery goes


Open the box
Close the box

Often a group of young men ride into a village on motorcycles. The teacher is told to leave, the terrorists forbid the sale of alcohol at the market, and the village’s moderate imam is also threatened. Then the gang leaves again – and returns a few days later. Anyone who defied their orders must expect to be executed in the street. “A school cannot exist in such a climate of fear,” says Africa correspondent Samuel Burri.

Which countries are affected? The situation is particularly acute in the center of the Sahel zone. The number of closed schools there has increased almost sixfold since 2019, to now 9,000 schools. The phenomenon is widespread in Burkina Faso. More than 6,100 schools there were closed in July – around a quarter of all schools in the country. The government in Burkina Faso no longer has control over large parts of the national territory, says Burri. “Armed groups such as Islamists, crooks or criminals can do whatever they want there.”

Are there other reasons for school closures? Schools are being abandoned not only because of the unsafe situation, but also partly because of forced relocations. Some children would not have access to schools for many months or even years, the UN notes. This puts the future of entire generations of children at risk. In addition, many children are forced to work, join armed groups or get married – instead of going to school. This is destroying their future.

Africa has made great progress in education in the last few decades – it would be all the more important if the closed schools could reopen soon.

Are there any positive developments? In the Central African Republic, numerous previously closed schools have recently been able to reopen. “Apparently there are fewer rebel groups there that threaten security,” notes Burri. In principle, it is a good sign for the security situation if schools can operate. “Africa has made great progress in education in the last few decades – it would be all the more important if the closed schools could reopen soon,” said the correspondent.

Samuel Burri

Samuel Burri

Africa correspondent


Open the people box
Close the people box

Samuel Burri has been reporting on events in Africa for SRF since 2017. He lives in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Before joining SRF, the historian worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and West Africa.

source site-72