Global body says armed groups are becoming more sophisticated, warning that military action alone will not defeat insurgency in the region…..
The United Nations has raised fresh concerns over the evolving tactics of terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria and across West Africa and the Sahel, warning that extremists are increasingly relying on drones, encrypted communication technologies and cryptocurrencies to strengthen their operations.
The warning was delivered to the UN Security Council by Leonardo Simão, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, during a briefing on the security, political and humanitarian situation across the region.
Presenting the Secretary-General’s latest report covering developments between November 29, 2025, and June 30, 2026, Simão said terrorist organisations are adapting rapidly, making them more sophisticated and increasingly difficult to confront.
According to him, extremist groups are no longer operating with conventional methods alone. They are now leveraging modern technologies, including drones and advanced communication systems, while using cryptocurrencies to facilitate their activities and coordinating attacks across national borders.
He warned that the growing collaboration between terrorist organisations and transnational criminal networks is enabling the groups to expand their territorial influence, strengthen their financial base and gradually undermine public trust in government institutions.
Simão identified northern Nigeria and the central Sahel as some of the regions most severely affected by the deteriorating security situation, noting that countries such as Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso continue to record deadly attacks, kidnappings and heavy civilian casualties.
Beyond the security threat, he said the humanitarian impact continues to worsen, revealing that about 6.8 million people have been displaced across the region, while an additional 1.28 million have fled their homes as refugees or asylum seekers.
He added that women, children and young people remain the hardest hit, as persistent insecurity and funding shortages continue to limit humanitarian access to vulnerable communities.
Despite the challenges, the UN official pointed to signs of progress in regional cooperation. He cited the reopening of the Kamba border crossing between Nigeria and Niger as well as ongoing efforts by the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission to implement the 2002 International Court of Justice ruling on the two countries’ land and maritime boundary.
Describing both initiatives as encouraging examples of dialogue and collaboration, Simão said they demonstrate that regional partnerships remain essential in addressing shared security challenges.
He, however, cautioned that military operations alone would not be enough to defeat terrorism, urging governments to tackle the poverty, unemployment and social vulnerabilities that continue to fuel violent extremism.
He stressed that addressing economic hardship must remain a central pillar of the broader counterterrorism strategy, adding that regional leaders are working to strengthen cooperation despite mounting challenges.
Simão also disclosed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is making renewed efforts to operationalise its standby force, although limited financial resources remain a major obstacle to its full deployment.
