United Nations (UN) has warned that terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria, West Africa and the Sahel are increasingly deploying drones, sophisticated communication technologies and cryptocurrencies to enhance their operations.
The warning was issued by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr Leonardo Simão, during a briefing to the UN Security Council.
Simão presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on developments in West Africa and the Sahel, covering the period from Nov. 29, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
He said armed groups were becoming more sophisticated and increasingly difficult to contain.
“Armed groups are increasingly using drones, sophisticated communications and cryptocurrencies while coordinating operations across borders,” he told the Security Council.
According to him, the activities of the groups are closely linked to 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.
“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,” he said.
Simão said Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso continued to experience terrorist attacks, kidnappings and significant civilian casualties.
He disclosed that about 6.8 million people had been displaced across the region, while an additional 1.28 million people had become refugees or asylum seekers.
The UN official said women, children and young people remained the most affected by the humanitarian crisis, adding that insecurity and funding shortages had severely limited humanitarian access.
Despite the worsening security situation, Simão highlighted ongoing regional cooperation, including the reopening of the Kamba border crossing between Nigeria and Niger.
He also commended the progress made by the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission in implementing the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment on the land and maritime boundary between the two countries.
“These are some examples of regional efforts towards dialogue,” he said.
Simão stressed that military action alone would not be enough to address terrorism, urging governments to tackle poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic conditions that fuel 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 further informed the Council that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had renewed efforts to operationalise its standby force, although funding challenges remained a major constraint.
The briefing came shortly after the UN Security Council extended the mandate of UNOWAS until Jan. 31, 2029.
