Africa has replaced the Middle East as the hub of global terrorism, with West Africa and the Sahel now accounting for the world’s highest death tolls and most affected countries, the United Nations has said.
Leonardo Simão, UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, sounded the alarm in Abuja on Wednesday during the opening of a high-level regional conference on countering terrorism, hosted by Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
Quoting the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, he said: “West Africa and the Sahel accounted for most fatalities in 2024. Among the ten most affected countries globally, five are in this region.” Burkina Faso is now the most terrorised country in the world, surpassing Pakistan, he added.
Simão described how extremist groups are adapting quickly, forging alliances and using new technologies including drones, encrypted communications, and cyber tools. “They strike with greater precision and psychological impact,” he warned.
The humanitarian fallout is severe. In 2024, at least 1,364 children were recruited by armed groups, 466 cases of sexual violence were recorded, and more than 14,000 schools were closed because of insecurity.
Simão said heavy military spending — projected at $3.2 billion in the Central Sahel alone in 2025 — risks diverting resources from health, education, and climate resilience. He urged a “holistic” response that addresses root causes, fosters dialogue, and prioritises youth and women.
He commended ECOWAS for keeping diplomatic channels open with the Alliance of Sahel States, calling the preservation of free movement across borders “proof that dialogue can prevail even in crisis.”
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, represented by Dr Cyriaque Agnekethom, confirmed the bloc’s intention to deploy a regional counter-terrorism force. Proposals under review include a 5,000-strong brigade or a smaller 1,650-man phased deployment.
Musah said ECOWAS would focus on disrupting terrorist supply chains — from arms and ammunition to illicit funds and dual-use materials. “We must intercept and cut off the resources that fuel this threat,” he stressed.
He applauded Nigeria, along with the UN and African Union, for its role in steering regional efforts to protect civilians and strengthen security.
