Un warns of rising isis threat in Sahel and lake Chad region
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a persistent and escalating terrorist threat across Africa, with the Sahel and Lake Chad basin emerging as critical hotspots for the expansion of the Islamic State (ISIS) and its regional affiliates.
This assessment comes from a newly released report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, presented to the Security Council, highlighting that despite setbacks to ISIS’s central leadership, the group’s regional branches are growing stronger and more autonomous.
According to the findings, the Sahel and Lake Chad region have become the primary zones where ISIS-linked factions are consolidating power, exploiting local vulnerabilities to expand their influence. The report underscores that these branches are increasingly operating with greater operational independence, making them more resilient against counterterrorism efforts.
How isis is evolving in africa
The document, prepared by Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), identifies the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) as the most active ISIS affiliate globally. The report notes that ISWAP continues to strengthen its military capabilities, increasingly deploying commercial drones for surveillance and attack operations.
Beyond the Sahel and Lake Chad, the report also highlights ongoing offensives by ISIS-affiliated groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Mozambique, despite sustained pressure from national and regional forces. These groups persist in recruiting new fighters and reinforcing local networks, demonstrating their adaptability and persistence.
Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva emphasized that ISIS has undergone a fundamental transformation in its operational structure to survive military campaigns. “The group remains a serious threat to international peace and security despite global counterterrorism efforts,” she stated.
From hierarchy to decentralized networks
The report reveals that while international military operations have weakened ISIS’s central command and reduced its ability to orchestrate large-scale attacks, the group has adapted by decentralizing into a network of regional affiliates. These branches, bound by a shared ideology, now operate with significant autonomy, allowing them to thrive despite losses.
This shift enables ISIS to exploit institutional weaknesses, prolonged conflicts, and economic hardships to deepen its roots in vulnerable regions. The UN warns that this strategy highlights the group’s ability to adapt and persist, even as its global leadership faces mounting pressure.
Technology as a double-edged sword
The report also highlights ISIS’s growing reliance on advanced technologies to enhance its operations. The UN notes that the group is increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence, encrypted communications, digital platforms, cryptocurrencies, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to refine its propaganda, recruitment, financing, and attack planning.
While these tools pose significant challenges, the report acknowledges their potential as powerful instruments in the fight against terrorism—when deployed responsibly and in accordance with international law.
The UN calls for stronger international cooperation and closer collaboration with the private sector, particularly technology companies, to better regulate and govern the use of emerging technologies. Such efforts are seen as essential to mitigating the evolving threat posed by ISIS and its affiliates across Africa.
