UN warns of terror threat in West Africa, Sahel

The United Nations has warned that terrorist groups are expanding their reach across West Africa and the Sahel, using increasingly sophisticated methods and threatening the stability of coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea.

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, who stated this while briefing the UN Security Council, said armed groups continue to pose a serious security challenge, particularly in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria.

“On the security situation, the threat posed by terrorist and other non-state armed groups remains acute, especially in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria, rapidly targeting coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea.

“These groups are adapting their tactics, increasingly using advanced technology, such as drones, means of communication and cryptocurrencies,” he told the council.

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Simão also warned that drug trafficking is becoming increasingly intertwined with terrorism, while humanitarian access remains severely restricted in many conflict-affected areas. He said women, children and young people continue to bear the brunt of the violence, with attacks on schools threatening the future of entire communities.

The Security Council also heard calls for greater regional cooperation and dialogue to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, weak governance and climate vulnerability.

Responding to the concerns, Burkina Faso’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Saïdou Zongo said countries in the Alliance of Sahel States remain committed to working toward peace despite ongoing security challenges.

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