The United Nations has raised grave concerns about the escalating humanitarian crisis linked to terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. In 2024 alone, over 1,360 children were forced into armed groups, while insecurity forced the closure of more than 14,000 schools in the region.
These alarming statistics were highlighted by Leonardo Simão, the UN Under Secretary-General and Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, at the Regional Conference on Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security in the ECOWAS Region and the Sahel, held in Abuja.
Simão underscored the far-reaching consequences, noting that entire generations are losing their futures, communities are being torn apart, and instability continues to deepen. He explained that terrorist organizations are exploiting areas with limited government control, amplifying local grievances, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies like drones and encrypted messaging to strengthen their operations.
He remarked, “Terrorist groups display a disturbing capacity to adjust their tactics—capitalizing on lawless areas, fueling local unrest, and using sophisticated tools such as drones and cyber technologies to launch highly targeted and psychologically damaging attacks.”
“This comes at a devastating human cost: in 2024, 1,364 children were recruited by armed groups across six countries; 466 instances of sexual violence were recorded; and 14,364 schools shut their doors because of insecurity. These numbers point to lost childhoods and fractured societies,” Simão continued.
He further revealed that five of the world’s ten countries most affected by terrorism are located in West Africa and the Sahel, and that fatalities have climbed further this year.
The expansion of extremist violence into delicate border zones—such as Tambacounda, covering parts of Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and Mauritania—as well as protected conservation areas, is putting livelihoods, ecotourism, and biodiversity at risk.
Simão elaborated, “Of the ten countries globally most impacted by terrorism, half are in our region. Terror attacks are increasing not only in frequency and deadliness but also in complexity, as groups form alliances and broaden their reach.”
“Terrorist activities are spreading into border regions like Tambacounda between Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and Mauritania, and into protected reserves including Park W, Arly, and Pendjari, spanning Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These intrusions undermine local economies and threaten the richness of our natural environments, proving that no corner is immune from the reach of extremism,” he said.
Simão also cautioned that ongoing political disputes between neighboring countries and the worsening effects of climate change are driving more youths toward extremist groups, while precious resources are being diverted towards defense spending at the expense of social sectors.
He explained, “Political tensions between countries in our region erode trust, hinder joint security efforts, and open the door to exploitation by terrorist and criminal networks.”
“Climate change amplifies every challenge—displacing people, sparking conflicts over land and water between herders and farmers, and driving communities toward precarious living conditions. Extremist recruiters exploit these vulnerabilities and local grievances,” he added. “In 2025, Central Sahel countries are expected to spend $3.2 billion on defense, siphoning crucial funding away from education, healthcare, and climate initiatives.”
Despite these grave challenges, Simão advocated for a comprehensive strategy that blends military measures with investment in dialogue, expanded social services, and long-term, inclusive development—focusing especially on the region’s youth and women.
He also emphasized the need for tough action against transnational organized crime—including drug and arms trafficking and illegal mining—that finances terrorist groups.
Simão praised recent ECOWAS initiatives aimed at preserving freedom of movement in partnership with the Sahel States Alliance, as well as growing collaboration between ECOWAS and the African Union in launching a Joint Threat Fusion and Analysis Cell for better intelligence sharing.
At the same conference, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, urged countries in the region to deepen their collaboration against terrorism. He warned that uncoordinated, national-level approaches cannot match the complexities of a threat that crosses borders and adapts rapidly.
Badaru identified terrorism as one of the chief obstacles to peace and stability in West Africa and the Sahel, emphasizing that only joint action, supported by real-time intelligence and synchronized military responses, can succeed.
He said, “Our fragmented strategies have been in place for too long. Although national efforts deserve recogntion, they have fallen short in countering a threat that effortlessly moves across our borders. The security of one country is intertwined with that of its neighbors.”
The Minister stressed the pivotal role of intelligence, calling it the “primary force multiplier” needed to counter extremist threats.
He encouraged ECOWAS member states to create standing mechanisms for the instant exchange of intelligence relating to terrorist financing, movement, and recruitment.
Badaru added, “It’s not enough to just share intelligence—it must be fully integrated. Leveraging tools like artificial intelligence for regional early-warning systems must become standard practice. Yet, while embracing innovation, we must remain vigilant in upholding human rights and personal freedoms. Security improvements must support legitimacy, not undermine it.”
He also called for the formal establishment of joint, multinational military operations under unified command structures, and said reinvigorating the ECOWAS Standby Force should be a top priority.
Finally, Badaru argued that harmonizing legal standards across ECOWAS countries is vital to ensure terrorist groups and their supporters find no refuge anywhere in the region.
