The Islamic State (ISIS) is expanding its influence across West Africa and the Sahel, posing a growing threat to regional stability.
A senior UN counter-terrorism official warned the Security Council on Thursday that ISIS and its affiliates are exploiting political unrest in the region to increase their territory and operational capabilities.
The groups are responsible for numerous attacks causing significant casualties.
Two ISIS branches, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahel (ISGS), have significantly expanded their control, raising concerns of a potential ISIS-controlled land corridor stretching from Mali to northern Nigeria.
The threat extends beyond West Africa. ISIS affiliates are also active in Mozambique, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The UN official emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated global response to counter this rising threat.
These developments highlight a deteriorating security situation in the region, with far-reaching implications for both regional and international stability.
