New York: Expanding terrorist networks, mass displacement, and the collapse of essential services in West Africa and the Sahel are increasingly becoming a global concern.

According to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who addressed the Security Council, the proliferation of terrorist groups in the region is evolving into a global threat due to their expanding connections beyond Africa.

The Sahel region, spanning almost coast to coast across Africa, is particularly affected, accounting for 19% of terrorist attacks globally and over half of terrorism-related casualties worldwide. The crisis has resulted in the displacement of around four million people across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring countries.

In response to the escalating threat, Mr. Guterres called for a unified, coherent, and consensus-based regional strategy. He emphasized the importance of maintaining financial support for humanitarian response plans and developing strategies to address the root causes of terrorism. He urged for intelligence sharing and financial tracking through mechanisms such as the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Compact and ECOWAS's counter-terrorism strategy. He highlighted the severe underfunding of humanitarian appeals for the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, noting that less than one-quarter of the $4.9 billion required has been raised.

Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, informed the Security Council that terrorism is no longer confined to the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin but poses a threat to all of West Africa. ECOWAS is accelerating the deployment of its standby force, aiming to increase personnel from 1,650 to 5,000 with regional and partner support. Mr. Touray stressed that while partners have acted to combat terrorism, the numerous initiatives have resulted in fragmentation, hindering cooperation. He emphasized the need for coordination and cohesion, stating that collaboration and synergy are crucial to overcoming the threat.

Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and chair of ECOWAS, advocated for viewing ECOWAS as a community of courage and a stabilizing force in Africa. He called for democratic trust, decisive action against extremism, and regional security coordination. He proposed an ECOWAS-UN-African Union compact to ensure predictable financing and operations across the region.