Security Council Told Political Upheaval, Violent Extremism Continue to Challenge West Africa, Sahel Region
Recent political upheavals in Benin and Guinea-Bissau expose ongoing vulnerability in a region already plagued by violent extremism, a senior United Nations official warned the Security Council today, as she urged increased collaboration with and between regional organizations to address these challenges.
Highlighting key developments that “illustrate both the region’s fragility and its resilience” was Barrie Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel. On 7 December, Benin’s national security forces, with support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and partners, thwarted an attempted coup d’état by military officers citing grievances over deteriorating security, management of the Armed Forces and restrictions on political activity. On 26 November, in Guinea-Bissau, the military took control of the country, disrupting presidential election results. “Since then, arrests, divisive rhetoric and online hate speech are a growing cause of concern,” she stated.
Meanwhile, in Côte d’Ivoire, she pointed to concerns raised over the exclusion of major opposition figures from the October presidential elections. In response, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) worked with ECOWAS and the African Union to deliver unified messages encouraging dialogue and the conduct of peaceful elections. “Experience across the region shows that governance reforms perceived as exclusionary erode legitimacy and fuel popular discontent,” she observed. In that context, she cited a 14 December ECOWAS summit during which leaders both agreed on a short, inclusive transition in Guinea-Bissau and warned that targeted sanctions would apply to any actor obstructing this process.
Turning to security, she underscored that the Sahel “remains the global epicentre of violent extremism”. In Mali, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin is disrupting trade corridors, cutting off Bamako’s supply of fuel and other essential goods. The humanitarian consequences remain dire, with more than 3,300 refugees fleeing clashes between the group and the Malian Armed Forces to seek refuge in Mauritania, where reception capacity is severely strained. Meanwhile, in the Lake Chad Basin, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have intensified their attacks, while the Lakurawa group in north-western Nigeria further tests the Nigerian Armed Forces’ capacity to secure the territory.
With the link between terrorism and organized crime accelerating, she cited emerging new initiatives to address shared threats. Angola, Chair of the African Union, has urged the region to pursue constructive engagement, while ECOWAS leaders have visited members of the Alliance of Sahel States — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — and convened consultations. While the “rapprochement between Sahelian and ECOWAS States remains fragile”, she urged the Council to consider predictable financing for the Sahel as “persistent poverty, high debt burdens and joblessness expose structural economic weaknesses that must be addressed”.
Speakers Urge Regional Coordination to Address Security, Humanitarian Crises
As the floor opened for debate, Sierra Leone’s delegate — also speaking for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia — echoed the Deputy Special Representative’s concerns that the region remains fragile and requires concerted attention. Urging “zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of Government”, he welcomed the ECOWAS condemnation of the crisis in Guinea-Bissau. Further, he called for the immediate and unconditional release of arbitrarily detained officials, while commending swift intervention by ECOWAS and Nigeria following the attempted coup d’état in Benin. And as terrorist groups intensify attacks, he stressed that there is “no alternative to broad and effective regional coordination”.
Spotlighting the “dire” humanitarian crisis accompanying these security challenges, Slovenia’s delegate — Council President for December — spoke in his national capacity to lament the “stark” numbers in play. These include over 1 million people affected by floods, more than 5 million displaced by conflict and tens of millions facing food insecurity. While communities continue to adapt and endure, he stressed: “This cannot last. It should not last. Resilience alone is not enough.” Similarly, the representative of the United Kingdom voiced concern over a figure — namely, that an estimated 12.1 million people will require urgent assistance in 2026. She therefore condemned access challenges and bureaucratic impediments undermining the timely and efficient delivery of life-saving assistance.
Returning to the terrorist threat, the United States’ delegate noted with particular concern the situation in Mali and the tragic and unacceptable violence in Nigeria perpetrated by militias and groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province. Calling the mass abduction of students and teachers in Nigeria “nothing short of barbaric”, he stressed: “We cannot — and will not — stand by while such atrocities occur.” The United States, therefore, will take “decisive action under a new policy” to restrict visas for individuals involved in serious violations of religious freedom, he said. For their part, he urged Sahel States and their coastal neighbours to set aside their differences and pursue a coordinated counterterrorism response.
Other speakers also pointed to the imperative to confront terrorism in the region, with the representative of the Republic of Korea underlining the need to address political fragility and weakened regional cooperation ahead of upcoming elections. Pakistan’s delegate cited his country’s “historic and deep-rooted” partnership with the continent. Pakistan’s peacekeepers have served with distinction across Africa, and the country stands ready to share its counter-terrorism experience, he added.
The representative of the Russian Federation, meanwhile, called on the international community to support the efforts of the Alliance of Sahel States, which “embodies the just aspiration of the Sahel peoples” and is “at the forefront of the fight against the terrorist threat in the region”. She warned that sanctions, pressure and the exclusion of countries from regional structures “inevitably leads only to the aggravation of the political situation and suffering of the civilians”. Adding that “examples of that abound”, she said that “attempts by foreign Powers to interfere in affairs of the region are counterproductive”.
Meanwhile, France’s delegate noted that the phrase “African solutions to African problems” “does not mean that this Council is indifferent to Africa”. Highlighting the organ’s efforts to help regional organizations support regional States, he condemned any attempt to seize power by force and welcomed the mediation efforts of ECOWAS in Guinea-Bissau — as well as its decisive intervention in Benin to ensure respect for constitutional order. Other delegates emphasized that inclusive, democratic governance is fundamental to peace, justice and sustainable development, with Denmark’s delegate stating: “We cannot risk the collapse of governance institutions.”
Other speakers also found hope in regional collaboration, with the representative of Greece — a “leading maritime nation” — expressing support for enhanced cooperation to strengthen coastal security capacities. The region stands at a defining moment in the 50-year history of ECOWAS, and — quoting a sentiment expressed by the bloc’s leaders during its summit earlier in December — she underscored: “Unity is not optional; it is a survival imperative.”
In that context, China’s delegate noted that many regional countries are entering election years. Stating that the smooth advancement of major political agendas would help maintain domestic unity and stability, he urged the countries concerned to build consensus through peaceful and inclusive dialogue, which will enhance stability for the electoral process. For his part, Panama’s representative commended regional efforts to promote youth participation, which is crucial to prevent marginalization and subsequent recruitment by armed and extremist groups. While observing that “people are recruited when there is the promise of a more dignified life”, he stressed that such a promise is “simply a pipe dream”. He stressed: “This is happening because they are not living in secure, safe conditions.”
Côte d’Ivoire Calls for Collective Action to Address Insecurity, Benin Says Peace Preserved through Law
For his part, the representative of Côte d’Ivoire urged that the fight against terrorism “cannot rest solely on the most exposed States”. Nevertheless, he said that his country held smooth presidential elections that testify to the “maturity and vitality” of its institutions, civic engagement of the population and responsibility of all stakeholders. He expressed concern, however, over the ongoing deterioration of regional security and called for collective action based on information sharing, capacity pooling and increased support for regional initiatives — particularly those of ECOWAS and the African Union.
Benin’s delegate, detailing his country’s response to the attempted coup d’état on 7 December, said: “No exceptional measures were taken, no state of emergency was declared, no public freedom was suspended.” This restraint, he added, “was no coincidence” as Benin is committed to the rule of law. And placing the incident in a regional context of persistent institutional fragility, he said that the UN remains the central multilateral framework for “documenting facts, exercising collective vigilance and preventing any escalation”. Adding that his country responded to this “ordeal” through the law, he underscored: “And it is through our faithfulness to the law — more than through force — that nations sustainably preserve peace.”
Complete Live Blog coverage of today's meeting can be found here.