The United Nations has raised fresh concerns over the growing influence of the Islamic State group in West Africa, particularly across the central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.
In a report presented to the UN Security Council on February 2, 2026, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the threat posed by the group’s affiliates has intensified. The document notes that militants are consolidating territorial control while increasing the frequency of attacks.
According to the report, fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province are adopting more sophisticated tactics in carrying out assaults, signaling an evolution in operational capacity.
The findings underscore mounting security pressures in the region, as governments and international partners confront a complex and expanding extremist threat.
