Jihadist groups in West Africa and the Sahel are transforming their operations beyond launching attacks to administering territories, controlling trade routes, and exploiting advanced technologies such as drones and cryptocurrencies. This evolving threat is now rapidly extending to coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking before the UN Security Council on Tuesday, July 14th, Leonardo Santos Simão, head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), highlighted the acute danger posed by terrorist groups and other non-State armed groups, particularly in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria. He warned that these groups are adapting their methods at breakneck speed, coordinating attacks across multiple countries and strengthening ties with transnational criminal networks.

On April 25th, a coalition including the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched simultaneous attacks against several locations in Mali, including Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal, and Mopti.

The humanitarian impact is significant. By the end of February, West Africa and the Sahel were hosting nearly 6.8 million internally displaced persons and 1.3 million refugees and asylum seekers. The Gulf of Guinea States, previously less affected, now host approximately 220,000 refugees. In Liberia, the Burkinabe population has more than tripled since 2025, increasing from 40,000 to 140,000, which is straining land, public services, and host communities.

Government responses are struggling to keep pace with these changes, while regional dialogue efforts seek to regain momentum.

Sources