The United States is worried by the “expansion” of al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sahel and West Africa, including JNIM and IS-Sahel’s territorial gains.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, shared the concern in his remarks at this week’s UN Security Council Briefing on Terrorist Threats to International Peace and Security.
Highlighting terrorists’ kidnapping for ransom, Waltz observed that the threats are widening and complex, as they involve foreign fighters converging in different conflict zones.
The diplomat cited the latest Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team report, which shows terror cells continue to exploit instability across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
Waltz noted that ISIL’s growing focus on Africa, its resilience in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, reinforces the need for “sustained, coordinated counterterrorism efforts” by the UN.
America is particularly disturbed by groups’ “exploitation of new technologies” such as commercial satellite communications, artificial intelligence, drones, and cryptocurrencies.
The U.S. said the advancement in tactics and armament further complicates the threat landscape, requiring vigilance from UN member states as well as coordination with the private sector.
Waltz called for further disruption of terrorist financing networks, saying the recent successes in Somalia and in West Africa prove that following the money and stopping it can have decisive effects.
The U.S. lauded countries whose operations have limited ISIL and al-Qa’ida, especially in Iraq, Syria, and Somalia, and urged cooperation on repatriation to mitigate threats and reduce instability risks.
“Member States should collaborate on screening and information sharing to prevent terrorist movement across borders, in support of UN Security Council Resolution 2396,” Waltz added.
Last November, the United Kingdom, which currently chairs the UN Security Council, expressed similar concern about the proliferation of terrorist groups in the Sahel and West Africa.
In Nigeria, Boko Haram (an al-Qaeda affiliate) and its splinter groups, the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Ansaru, and Lakuwara, have wreaked havoc for nearly two decades.
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated breed operating in the Sahel, has begun expanding into Nigeria, where it launched multiple attacks in 2025.
US worried over expansion of terrorist cells in Sahel, West Africa
