UN warns: Sahel terror surge threatens women, girls

Terrorist violence in Africa’s Sahel region is rising sharply, worsening conditions for women and girls, according to senior UN officials cited by the Associated Press. Speaking before the UN Security Council, Leonardo Santos Simão, head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, said extremist attacks have grown “in scale, complexity and sophistication,” including the use of drones and ties to cross-border criminal networks.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—all led by military juntas—are seeing the highest tolls. Between April and July alone, over 2,800 people were killed in 400 attacks, per ACLED data. In Niger, Islamic State-linked fighters killed over 100 civilians in June.

UN Women chief Sima Bahous stressed the disproportionate impact on women and girls. Over a million girls are out of school, most permanently. Displacement, hunger, and gender-based violence are worsening. Bahous called for at least 15% of counter-extremism funding to target gender equity and women’s empowerment.