UN Expresses Concern over ISIS Expansion in West Africa

The United Nations' counter-terrorism chief, Vladimir Voronkov, voiced concern over the deteriorating security situation in West Africa due to the increasing activities of ISIS and its affiliated groups in the region.

Speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting, Voronkov highlighted that ISIS continues to pose a serious threat to international peace and security, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel, which are "most affected by the activities of ISIS and its affiliated groups.

Voronkov noted that the situation in these regions has worsened over the past six months, becoming more complex with local and regional ethnic conflicts.

He pointed out that ISIS-affiliated groups are operating more independently from the central structure of ISIS, raising concerns about the emergence of a vast unstable area from Mali to the borders of Nigeria, as detailed in the latest report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released this week.

The report discusses "internal divisions" within ISIS, particularly highlighted by the delayed announcement in 2023 of the death of its previous leader, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi, and speculates a possible shift in the "center of gravity of the central structure" of the organization outside Iraq or Syria.

The report suggests that the new leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurashi, "could be based in Afghanistan or more likely in Africa," indicating a potential new phase in the global threat posed by ISIS.