UN report highlights jihadist resurgence in Africa and Syria

A UN expert report released Wednesday warns of a resurgence of ISIS and al‑Qaida affiliates across Africa and Syria, shifting the epicentre of global jihadist activity to the Sahel and beyond, Commonspace.eu reports.

In West Africa, Jama’at Nasr al‑Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) is expanding across Mali and Burkina Faso, deploying drones and IEDs against military targets. ISIS’s Sahel Province is entrenched near the Niger-Nigeria border. In East Africa, al‑Shabab maintains its grip on parts of Somalia and is reportedly building ties with Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The report also highlights Syria’s continuing instability, where both groups are re-establishing a foothold. Over 5,000 foreign fighters reportedly took part in the December 2024 assault on Damascus, raising fears of cross-border extremist infiltration.

Online radicalisation remains a global concern, with jihadist groups using encrypted channels to spread ideology and plan attacks abroad. The UN warns that weak state control and regional volatility are fuelling the threat.