Tensions Explode in West Africa As Anti-Fulani Sentiment Spreads

Tensions are reaching a breaking point across West Africa as escalating attacks against Fulani communities in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger drive mass displacement and deepen ethnic fault lines.

Reports indicate that in Burkina Faso, government-backed militias have been implicated in deadly assaults on Fulani civilians — though authorities have vehemently denied any involvement. Regardless, the violence shows no signs of slowing, with ethnic and security conflicts spiraling out of control.

In Mali and Niger, Fulani populations are increasingly targeted for retaliation, fueled by suspicions of their ties to extremist groups operating in the region. Although some Fulani individuals have joined armed factions, entire communities now bear the brunt of widespread suspicion, leading to forced evictions, brutal reprisals, and the collapse of local coexistence.

Thousands have been driven from their homes as militias and civilian groups take matters into their own hands, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis. Fears are mounting that this instability could spill over into neighboring countries, particularly Nigeria, Sudan, and Cameroon.

In Nigeria, the signs of contagion are already evident. Ethnic tensions are rapidly intensifying, sparked by the resurgence of the Hausawa Tsantsa Development Association (HTDA), led by the outspoken activist Hajiya Kaltum Alumbe Jitami.

Jitami, often referred to by her growing followers as the “Mother of the Hausa Nation,” has taken a hardline stance against Fulani influence. Using platforms such as social media, Jaruma Hausa TV 24, and public rallies, she calls on indigenous Hausas to launch a “final stand” against what she brands as centuries of Fulani domination.

In a fiery statement, the Jigawa-born activist openly cursed Shehu Usman Danfodio, blaming him for introducing terrorism and bloodshed into Nigeria. According to Jitami, Danfodio’s historic jihad toppled peaceful Hausa kings, installed a Fulani oligarchy, and planted the seeds for the banditry and insurgency plaguing Northern Nigeria today.

Taking her accusations further, Jitami directly attacked prominent Northern figures, including the Emir of Sokoto, HRM Sa’ad Abubakar, and other traditional leaders. She accused them of silently endorsing terrorism, banditry, and ethnic cleansing through hidden alliances and complicity, claiming they protect Fulani interests at the expense of the Hausa people.

Jitami’s rhetoric is both religious and political. She boldly asserted that “Fulanis are not true Muslims” and decried acts of violence committed in the name of Islam — including the rape of fellow Muslims inside mosques — as evidence that Fulani leaders have hijacked religious identity for political control.

Calling for unity beyond religious divisions, Jitami urged all indigenous Hausas — Muslims, Christians, and traditionalists alike — to reclaim their sovereignty and identity. She declared that the era of religious deception is over and emphasized that the Hausa must stand together to safeguard their heritage.

Her movement is gaining astonishing momentum, with thousands rallying to her cause and hailing her as “Maama.” Jitami has also expanded her call to include other indigenous Nigerian communities, warning them to resist what she described as Fulani plans to impose Sharia law nationwide. She went as far as labeling the Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association a terror organization in her public speeches.

As her influence grows, fears are rising of impending conflicts between Hausa and Fulani communities, particularly in regions where they have traditionally coexisted. Analysts warn that if tensions continue to escalate, mass displacement and ethnic clashes may become inevitable.

The West African crisis, it seems, is only just beginning.