Cattle rustling and smuggling play a significant but often overlooked role in fuelling the conflict in the central Sahel. In the tri-border region between Burkina Faso, Ghana and Togo, cattle rustling finances extremist insurgent groups and supports recruitment.

This political economy analysis (PEA) of cattle rustling in the tri-border region examines how the trade is organised, who benefits, and how it intersects with broader patterns of insecurity.