UN counter-terrorism chief warns of ISIS’ surge in Africa, calls for global action

A senior UN counter-terrorism official has warned about the escalating threat level that the Islamic State (ISIL/Daesh) and other related terrorist groups pose to West Africa and particularly the Sahel amid the growing political unrest and instability in the region.

Vladimir Voronkov, head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in a briefing to the UN Security Council on Thursday Aug. 8 said that the Islamist State and its regional affiliates have expanded their areas of cooperation and funding in several parts of Africa, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, which has led to a major spike in attacks and civilian fatalities. Voronkov also warned that large swaths of Africa might come under the influence of these extremist groups that have remained focused on conducting attacks abroad, resulting in heightened threat levels in Europe.

“To eradicate the terrorist threat, we need inclusive, multilateral responses that are firmly grounded on political strategies, compliant with international law and informed by all-of-society and all-of-government approaches,” the UN under-secretary-general for counter-terrorism stressed. The terrorism landscape in West Africa and the Sahel remains challenging and complex also due to the resilience and adaptability demonstrated by the extremist groups, which have undermined sustained counter-terrorism efforts. Voronkov has also warned that should the Islamist State and its affiliates extend their influence in northern parts of West Africa and Sahel, a vast territory stretching from northern Nigeria to Mali could fall under their effective control.