In a sobering semi-annual report presented to the Security Council on February 2, 2026, the UN Secretary-General warned that the Islamic State (ISIS) is rapidly strengthening its foothold across West Africa, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin.
The document describes a “multipolar and increasingly complex” threat characterized by territorial consolidation, a surge in attacks, and the sophisticated use of new technologies to bypass traditional security measures.
The UN identifies the central Sahel—specifically the volatile border regions of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—and the Lake Chad Basin as the primary engines of the group’s expansion. In the Lake Chad Basin, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has gained significant ground in Nigeria’s Borno State while increasing raids against isolated populations in northern Cameroon and Chad’s Lake Province. Meanwhile, activity remains sustained in Niger’s Tillaberi, Tahoua, and Dosso regions, and in Mali, the group has engaged in violent clashes with the Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM for territorial supremacy. Propaganda and attacks are also intensifying further south in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique, though the report notes a rare success in Somalia, where security pressure has reduced fighter numbers following a series of arrests.
A major concern highlighted in the report is the group’s evolving technological capability, particularly the rise of drone warfare. ISWAP is reportedly stockpiling aerial drone systems by commercially importing spare parts and reassembling them locally, a move that has significantly enhanced their reconnaissance and operational reach. In response to these developments, the United Nations has increased technical assistance to African states, focusing on border security and cutting off terrorist financing through mechanisms like the Integrated Border Stability Mechanism, which now includes eight West African nations. The Secretary-General concluded that this expansion exacerbates instability and undermines human rights, calling for a unified and coordinated regional front to halt the group’s momentum.
AC/fss/abj/APA