United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the surge in terrorism across Africa’s Sahel region is no longer a localised crisis but an escalating global threat. Addressing the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Guterres said the situation risks triggering a “disastrous domino effect” across West and Central Africa unless countries strengthen cooperation and rebuild trust.
Guterres highlighted worsening instability in Mali, where al-Qaida-linked militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have been attacking infrastructure and disrupting fuel supplies, further weakening state authority and deepening humanitarian needs. The Sahel—stretching from Senegal to Sudan—has faced rising extremist violence for nearly a decade, with civilians, security forces, and aid workers frequently targeted. Complicating the crisis, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger recently withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a move analysts say undermines cross-border coordination against jihadist groups who exploit porous borders.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray told the Security Council the region is now marked by “mistrust and a high level of suspicion among stakeholders,” hampering joint security efforts. He urged the international community to help rebuild confidence and support dialogue between member states. Touray warned that military resources alone cannot reverse the trend, saying: “No amount of money, no amount of equipment will help us overcome terrorism if we don’t collaborate and build synergy.” According to the latest Global Terrorism Index, the Sahel now accounts for more than half of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide, making it the “global epicentre” of extremist violence.
