UN warns terrorist threat is spreading across West Africa and the Sahel

Terror groups expanding reach and using sophisticated tactics, Security Council told

The United Nations has warned that terrorist groups are expanding their operations across West Africa and the Sahel, posing an increasing threat to regional stability and the security of coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea.

Briefing the UN Security Council, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, said armed groups remain a serious challenge, particularly in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria.

According to Simão, extremist groups are becoming more sophisticated, adopting advanced technologies such as drones, encrypted communications and cryptocurrencies to support their activities and expand their influence.

Growing threat to coastal states

The UN warned that terrorist groups are increasingly targeting countries along the Gulf of Guinea, raising fears that insecurity could spread further beyond the Sahel region.

For years, countries including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have battled insurgencies linked to extremist organisations, with violence causing thousands of deaths and displacing millions of people.

The latest warning suggests that the threat is no longer confined to the central Sahel and is now putting additional pressure on neighbouring coastal nations.

Terrorism and organised crime becoming intertwined

The Security Council also heard concerns about the growing links between terrorism and organised crime, particularly drug trafficking.

Simão warned that criminal networks are increasingly working alongside armed groups, further complicating efforts to restore stability and improve security across the region.

Humanitarian access remains severely limited in many conflict-affected areas, making it difficult for aid organisations to reach vulnerable populations.

Women, children and young people continue to suffer the most from the violence, while repeated attacks on schools are jeopardising the future of entire communities.

Calls for greater regional cooperation

The UN urged countries in the region to strengthen cooperation and address the underlying causes of insecurity, including poverty, weak governance, unemployment and climate vulnerability.

Addressing the Security Council, Burkina Faso’s ambassador to the United Nations said countries within the Alliance of Sahel States remain committed to pursuing peace despite the ongoing challenges.

He stressed that the alliance remains open to dialogue and welcomed initiatives by Togo, the African Union and the United Nations aimed at supporting regional stability.

The UN said achieving lasting peace in West Africa and the Sahel will require sustained international support, increased humanitarian assistance and stronger regional cooperation to combat both terrorism and the root causes of conflict.