The United Nations has expressed concern over the changing tactics of terrorist organisations operating in northern Nigeria and other parts of West Africa and the Sahel, warning that armed groups are increasingly adopting modern technology to strengthen their operations.
The warning was delivered by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Simão, during a briefing to the United Nations Security Council.
Simão, who heads the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), presented the Secretary-General’s report covering developments in the region between November 29, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
His presentation came as the Security Council reviewed the security, political and humanitarian situation across West Africa, shortly after extending UNOWAS’ mandate until January 31, 2029.
According to Simão, terrorist groups are becoming more organised and technologically advanced, making them increasingly difficult to defeat.
“Armed groups are increasingly using drones, sophisticated communications and cryptocurrencies while coordinating operations across borders,” he said.
He explained that extremist groups are now combining their activities with transnational organised crime to expand their territorial influence, strengthen their finances and weaken public confidence in government 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 noted that terrorist violence remains widespread in Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso, where attacks, kidnappings and civilian casualties continue to increase.
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He disclosed that nearly 6.8 million people have been displaced across the region, while another 1.28 million are now refugees or asylum seekers.
Simão added that women, children and young people continue to suffer the greatest impact of the crisis as insecurity and funding shortages hamper humanitarian assistance.
Despite the deteriorating security situation, he acknowledged signs of regional cooperation, including the reopening of the Kamba border between Nigeria and Niger and progress made by the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission in implementing the 2002 International Court of Justice ruling on the two countries’ land and maritime boundaries.
“These are some examples of regional efforts towards dialogue,” he said.
Simão maintained that lasting peace cannot be achieved through military action alone, urging governments to tackle poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic conditions that make communities vulnerable to extremist recruitment.
“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 disclosed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is making efforts to operationalise its standby military force but continues to face serious funding constraints.