The global shift toward electric vehicles and renewable energy is increasing demand for lithium, but the mineral’s growing importance could create new security risks across the Sahel. A study covering Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad found that jihadist and criminal networks—including Boko Haram and ISWAP—are taxing miners, controlling mine access, and exploiting weak governance much as they have with gold and diamonds. Vulnerability varies by country, driven by factors like informal mining, border security, and institutional strength. With African lithium output projected to reach 500,000 tons by 2030, researchers urge governments to formalize artisanal mining, boost cross-border intelligence sharing, and invest in local processing to prevent the mineral from becoming another driver of conflict rather than development.