Terrorist groups in Africa’s Sahel region have become increasingly sophisticated, employing advanced technology, drones, and coordinated tactics to expand their control, the UN Security Council heard this week.
UN experts reported that extremist organizations, including the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in West Africa and al-Shabab in East Africa, have continued to seize territory while intensifying attacks on civilians and security forces.
Rising Threats: Drones, Explosives, and Recruitment
The head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) warned that terrorist activity has surged in “scale, complexity, and sophistication,” with militants utilizing:
-
Drones and anti-aircraft capabilities
-
Alternative internet communication networks
-
Improved explosive devices (IEDs)
-
Collaboration with transnational crime networks
Maritime security was also flagged as a growing concern, requiring a stronger international response.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The escalating violence has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation. Terrorist groups are deliberately targeting children, recruiting and radicalizing youth, and attacking schools and healthcare facilities. Restrictions on humanitarian access have deepened suffering in conflict zones.
Ethnic and communal tensions—particularly between herders and farmers—have further fueled instability, with climate change exacerbating resource conflicts.
Expanding Territorial Control
Armed groups now operate with “relative freedom” in northern Mali and much of Burkina Faso, according to UN experts. The Security Council strongly condemned the violence, expressing grave concern over the targeting of civilians and infrastructure.
“The deliberate attacks on children, schools, and hospitals must end,” a UN representative stated. “The international community must act before this crisis spirals further.”
As terrorist networks grow bolder and more technologically advanced, calls for a coordinated regional and global response have intensified. Without decisive action, experts warn, the Sahel’s security and humanitarian crises will only deepen.
