New york: Terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel is evolving, as groups now administer territories, control trade routes, exploit new technologies, and extend their influence toward the Gulf of Guinea. Government responses are struggling to keep pace, while regional dialogue efforts attempt to regain momentum. Speaking before the Security Council, Leonardo Santos Simo, head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), highlighted the region's changing threat landscape.According to United Nations, terrorist groups and non-state armed groups pose an acute threat, especially in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria, and are rapidly targeting coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea. These organizations are adapting quickly, utilizing drones, sophisticated communication tools, and cryptocurrencies, while strengthening their ties with transnational criminal networks. Their objectives extend beyond military operations, aiming to consolidate territorial and economic control while eroding public trust in g overnment authorities.Recent events illustrate this trend. In Mali, a coalition including the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) attacked multiple cities on April 25, resulting in civilian and military casualties, including the Malian Minister of Defence. Fighting continues in the north, with road blockades disrupting supplies to the capital and attacks on power lines.In Niger, attacks have targeted Niamey airport and a military base in Tahoua. Burkina Faso's northern and eastern regions suffer from drone attacks, while Nigeria's north and the Middle Belt face kidnappings and attacks, resulting in civilian casualties.The crisis is deepening, with increasing population displacements. By February's end, West Africa and the Sahel hosted nearly 6.8 million internally displaced persons, in addition to 1.3 million refugees and asylum seekers. The Gulf of Guinea States, previously less affected, now host about 220,000 refugees. In Liberia, the number of Burkinabe nationals tripled since 2025, straining resources and public services.Humanitarian access is deteriorating amid funding shortfalls, impacting relief operations. Women, children, and young people are most affected by the crisis. Drug trafficking is a growing concern, with increased production, trafficking, and consumption, particularly in coastal states. Authorities have made numerous seizures, but young people remain vulnerable. Some armed groups reportedly use drugs for their fighters, and cartels are gaining influence over public institutions, weakening them.This situation illustrates the interconnectedness of terrorism, organized crime, and parallel economies, blurring the lines between insurgency, trafficking, and governance in the turbulent region.