The United Nations (UN) has warned that terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria and across West Africa and the Sahel are increasingly deploying drones, sophisticated communications technology, and cryptocurrencies in their operations.
The warning was contained in a briefing to the UN security
council by Leonardo Simão, special representative of the secretary-general for
West Africa and the Sahel, and head of the United Nations Office for West
Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
Simão presented the secretary-general’s latest report on
developments in the region, covering the period between November 29, 2025, and
June 30, 2026.
The briefing came as the security council reviewed the
political, security and humanitarian situation in West Africa and the Sahel.
It also followed the council’s decision to extend UNOWAS’s
mandate until January 31, 2029.
Simão said terrorist groups are rapidly evolving and
becoming more difficult to contain.
“Armed groups are increasingly using drones, sophisticated
communications and cryptocurrencies while coordinating operations across
borders,” he said.
He added that the groups’ activities have become intertwined
with transnational organised crime, and are aimed at consolidating territorial
and economic control, while weakening public confidence in state institutions.
“The problem is acute, especially in the central Sahel and
northern Nigeria,” he said.
“Their actions intersect with transnational organised crime,
and are aimed at consolidating territorial and economic control, erosion of
public confidence in state authority, with serious damage to social cohesion.”
The UN official said Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso
continue to experience terrorist attacks, kidnappings and significant civilian
casualties.
He added that about 6.8 million people have been displaced
across the region, while another 1.28 million people have become refugees or
asylum seekers.
Simão said women, children and young people continue to bear
the greatest burden of the humanitarian crisis because insecurity and funding
shortfalls have limited humanitarian access.
Despite the worsening security situation, Simão cited
renewed regional cooperation, including the reopening of the Kamba border
crossing between Nigeria and Niger.
He also pointed to progress made by the Cameroon-Nigeria
Mixed Commission in implementing the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ)
judgment on the countries’ land and maritime boundary.
“These are some examples of regional efforts towards
dialogue,” he said.
Simão added that military operations alone would not
eliminate terrorism and urged governments to address the socio-economic factors
driving violent extremism.
“Fighting poverty and vulnerability must therefore remain a
common objective in the broader fight against terrorism. Regional actors are
working hard to find solutions,” he said.
He also relayed that the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) has renewed efforts to operationalise its standby force but is
constrained by limited funding
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