In a statement to the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom warned that affiliates of Islamic State and al‑Qaeda are expanding across West Africa and the Sahel, fuelling instability and inflicting civilian casualties. Citing a fuel blockade in Mali imposed by the al‑Qaeda‑linked group JNIM, the UK described the groups’ tactics as increasingly sophisticated.
The UK set out three messages. First, regional security and political cooperation remains central to counter‑terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. It welcomed deeper engagement among states and encouraged ECOWAS and members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to keep widening dialogue, noting the facilitation role played by the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
The statement pointed to regionally led initiatives as an important part of the response, including work towards a standby force capable of rapid deployment against shared threats. It referenced efforts to build on the Multinational Joint Task Force and ECOWAS’s Counter‑Terrorism Strategy as platforms for practical cooperation.
Second, the UK reiterated its commitment to working with African partners and backing African‑led approaches to stability and security. Current UK support includes funding and training for Nigeria’s National Counter‑Terrorism Centre, Côte d’Ivoire’s Counter Terrorism Academy, and the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit that supports the Multinational Joint Task Force. Together, these programmes are intended to strengthen intelligence sharing and regional resilience.
The UK also urged governments in the region to choose security partners carefully to avoid worsening the threat, without naming specific actors. The emphasis was on partnership choices that help contain violence rather than escalate it.
Third, the statement stressed that defeating terrorism requires addressing underlying drivers. This includes improving governance, reducing poverty, countering disinformation, protecting civic space and tackling climate change. The UK underlined that, without progress in these areas, conflict and terrorism will continue to damage communities and livelihoods, with disproportionate harm falling on women and children.
The UK highlighted Security Council Resolution 2719 as a potential tool for UN support to African Union‑led peace operations. The reference signals scope for regionally mandated responses to receive multilateral backing where appropriate.
For policymakers and implementers, the signal is a twin‑track approach: reinforce regional political cooperation while scaling practical capabilities such as intelligence fusion, training and rapid deployment. Progress will depend on state‑to‑state dialogue within ECOWAS and AES, UNOWAS facilitation, and how Resolution 2719 is operationalised for AU‑led missions.