Terrorism against healthcare facilities and workers in Africa: An assessment of attack modes, targets and locations

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article analyses nearly 600 terrorist attacks against healthcare facilities and workers in Africa between 1974 and 2021. It demonstrates there has been a notable increase in the number of terrorist attacks on these targets and explores the different attack modes, targets, and locations. The article describes how the attacks have transformed over the last nearly fifty years, becoming increasingly lethal. Consequently, it calls for scholars, the healthcare sector, governments, and international groups in Africa to recognise these trends and improve counter-measures for preventing and mitigating healthcare facility and worker attacks.