Key points
- The United Nations says Islamic State remains a serious threat in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin and parts of Central Africa.
- ISWAP has been identified as the most active Islamic State affiliate globally.
- The UN warns that terrorist groups are increasingly using AI, encrypted communications, drones and virtual assets.
Main story
The United Nations has warned that the Islamic State (ISIL/Da’esh) and its affiliates remain a serious threat to peace and security in Africa, particularly in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin and parts of Central Africa.
Senior UN counter-terrorism officials issued the warning on Wednesday while briefing the Security Council on the activities of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and global efforts to combat the group.
Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva, Chief of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, said Africa currently bears the heaviest burden of the threat posed by ISIL and its affiliates.
She identified the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as the most active ISIL affiliate in the world.
According to her, although sustained counter-terrorism operations have disrupted the group’s senior leadership and weakened its ability to coordinate attacks from a central command, the organisation has adapted by operating through decentralised networks linked by a common extremist ideology.
Niyazberdiyeva warned that terrorist groups are increasingly exploiting emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, encrypted communications, virtual assets and drones, to recruit members, mobilise resources and plan attacks across borders.
She also said the group continues to exploit weak governance, poverty, political instability, armed conflict and fragile security institutions in affected countries.
The UN official called for stronger international cooperation and practical measures to prevent ISIL and its splinter groups from regaining strength.
Several Security Council members stressed the need for increased support for African countries confronting terrorism.
Representatives of Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia warned that terrorist organisations are expanding their influence and that sub-Saharan Africa now accounts for more than half of global terrorism fatalities.
Council members also raised concerns about foreign terrorist fighters, online radicalisation, organised crime and the rapid evolution of technologies that are outpacing current counter-terrorism responses.
The council emphasised that defeating terrorism would require not only military action but also political, economic and social measures tailored to the realities facing affected communities.
The issues
The UN says terrorist groups are adapting faster than many national and international responses, particularly through decentralised operations and the use of emerging technologies. Weak governance, poverty and instability continue to create conditions that allow extremist groups to expand across parts of Africa.
What’s being said
“In spite of international efforts, Da’esh continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security.” — Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva, UN counter-terrorism official.
“While sustained counter-terrorism operations have disrupted Da’esh’s senior leadership, the group has continued to adapt.” — Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva.
“A threat that adapts faster than our response will inevitably expand to consume all of us.” — Lewis Brown, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
What’s next
The UN is expected to continue supporting member states through counter-terrorism assistance, while African countries seek greater international cooperation, intelligence sharing and operational support to contain the spread of extremist groups.
Bottom line
The UN says Islamic State remains a resilient and evolving threat in Africa, with the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin emerging as key hotspots where stronger security, governance and international cooperation will be critical to preventing further expansion.
 and its affiliates remain a serious threat to peace and security ...){kind=link}