The United Nations has designated Africa as the region most heavily impacted by the ongoing threat from the Islamic State terrorist network. In a recent report to the UN Security Council, top counter-terrorism officials from the UN discussed how the group's structure and operations have evolved over time. The briefing included the Secretary-General's 23rd report on ISIL, outlining the organization's global reach and the UN's role in supporting member states.
ISIL in Africa
Oguljeren Niyazberdiyeva, the head of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, stated clearly that Africa is the region most affected by extremist violence tied to ISIL. She pointed to the Sahel region, the Lake Chad Basin, and various parts of Central Africa as areas where the group remains highly active. These regions continue to face frequent attacks and recruitment efforts by extremist cells.
According to the UN report, the Islamic State West Africa Province has become the most active branch of the group globally. While international counter-terrorism operations have damaged the group's leadership hierarchy, the organization has not been defeated. Instead, it has shifted to a more decentralized model, operating in smaller, more adaptive networks. This change has allowed the group to remain a persistent threat despite years of global military pressure.
Technology and tactics
ISIL-linked factions are now leveraging modern technology to boost their operations. These include artificial intelligence, drones, and encrypted communication tools. These technologies are being used to spread extremist propaganda, attract new recruits, fund operations, and coordinate cross-border activities. The rise in the use of virtual assets like cryptocurrencies has also enabled the group to finance their actions more discreetly.
The UN report highlights how these groups continue to gain strength in areas where conflict is widespread, governance is weak, and political systems are unstable. Niyazberdiyeva called on all nations to step up international collaboration and take practical steps to stop the group and its branches from regaining momentum. She emphasized the importance of sustained efforts to weaken their operational capacities.
Regional responses
Several UN member countries have urged for increased global assistance to African nations struggling with terrorism. Somalia's representative highlighted the need for global counter-terrorism initiatives to bolster the security capabilities of African countries and support local ownership of security programs. Jocelyne Lukundula, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's deputy permanent representative, also emphasized the need for stronger international backing.
Lewis Brown, Liberia’s permanent representative to the UN, delivered a sobering warning: sub-Saharan Africa now accounts for more than half of the world’s terrorism-related deaths. He noted that extremist groups in the Sahel are not just trying to disrupt governments; they aim to replace them entirely. Brown also pointed out that these groups are shifting their focus toward coastal regions in West Africa, increasing the threat to the broader region.
Brown called for better information sharing at national borders, improved operational readiness, and stronger regional security cooperation. He stressed that if extremist groups continue to adapt faster than counter-terrorism efforts, they will continue to expand unchecked, putting more lives at risk.
Council members also brought attention to the dangers posed by foreign terrorist fighters, growing online radicalisation, and the rise of organized crime. They noted that the rapid development of new technologies is outpacing current counter-terrorism strategies. The council ultimately agreed that a successful counter-terrorism strategy must include military, political, economic, and social components tailored to the specific challenges facing affected communities.