Johannesburg, South Africa — The United Nations has issued a stark warning regarding the expansion of terrorist activities across West Africa and the Sahel region.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary — General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, has highlighted the increasing sophistication of these armed groups, which are now targeting coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea with advanced tactics such as the use of drones, sophisticated communication methods, and cryptocurrencies.
In a briefing to the UN Security Council, Simão emphasized that the threat posed by these groups, particularly in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria, is acute.
The situation has reached such a critical point that the Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) until January 31, 2029.
The extension acknowledges the urgency of the situation, which has seen approximately 6. 8 million people internally displaced and another 1. 28 million becoming refugees or asylum-seekers since February 2026.
In Mali, the situation has become particularly severe, with coordinated attacks by Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin and the Front de Libération de l’Azawad resulting in civilian and military casualties. These attacks, which Simão described as intersecting with transnational organized crime, are aimed at consolidating territorial and economic control while undermining public confidence in state authority.
The resulting social cohesion has been seriously damaged.
The UN Secretary — General, António Guterres, called for a unified regional response to counter the growing threat of terrorism.
The international community is increasingly aware of the need for cooperation to address this threat, and the UN’s call for a regional response underscores the importance of collaboration between countries in the region and with international partners.
As the situation evolves, the UN and regional bodies like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will continue to work towards finding solutions to the crisis.
The extension of UNOWAS’mandate is a clear indication of the international community’s commitment to supporting the region in its efforts to combat terrorism and maintain stability.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: AfricaNews
