The United Nations has raised concerns over the growing spread of terrorist groups across West Africa and the Sahel, warning that their evolving tactics pose an increasing threat to the stability of coastal countries in the Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking during a briefing to the UN Security Council, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, said armed extremist groups continue to present a major security challenge, particularly in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria.
According to Simão, the groups are expanding their operations toward coastal states while adopting more sophisticated methods, including the use of drones, advanced communication tools and cryptocurrencies to strengthen their activities.
He also expressed concern over the growing connection between terrorism and drug trafficking, noting that humanitarian aid remains difficult to deliver in many conflict-affected communities. Simão added that women, children and young people continue to suffer the most from the violence, with repeated attacks on schools putting the future of many communities at risk.
The Security Council emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation and sustained dialogue to tackle the underlying causes of insecurity, including poverty, poor governance and the effects of climate change.
In response, Burkina Faso’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Saïdou Zongo, reaffirmed that member states of the Alliance of Sahel States remain committed to restoring peace despite the persistent security challenges.
