UN: 1,364 West African children recruited by terrorists, 14,000 schools closed
The United Nations (UN) has decried the deepening humanitarian impact of terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.
According to the UN, 1,364 children were recruited by armed groups in 2024 and more than 14,000 schools were shut due to insecurity in the sub-region.
Leonardo Simão, the special representative of the secretary-general for West Africa and the Sahel spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at a regional conference on combating emerging terrorist groups and strengthening sustainable security in the ECOWAS region and the Sahel.
Simão pointed out that the situation reflects “stolen futures, fractured communities, and deepening fragility.”
He said terrorist groups are increasingly exploit ungoverned spaces, local grievances, and advanced technologies, such as drones and encrypted communications, to entrench their operations.
“Furthermore, we have to recognise that terrorist organisations have shown a troubling ability to adapt—exploiting ungoverned spaces, inflaming community grievances, and employing advanced technologies, such as drones, encrypted communications, and cyber tools to execute strikes with greater precision and heightened psychological impact,” he said.
“As a result, the human cost is staggering: 1,364 children recruited by armed groups in 2024 across six countries; 466 cases of sexual violence; and 14,364 schools closed in the region due to insecurity.
“These numbers represent stolen futures, fractured communities, and deepening fragility.”
The UN envoy decried that five of the 10 countries most impacted by terrorism are in West Africa and the Sahel, with fatalities rising in 2024.
He cautioned that extremist violence has expanded into sensitive border zones like the Tambacounda region, spanning Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and Mauritania, and even protected conservation areas, threatening livelihoods, eco-tourism, and biodiversity.
Simão said, “among the 10 countries most impacted by terrorism in the world, five are in our region.”
“The increase is not only in the number of attacks and victims but also in sophistication, as groups forge alliances and expand their operational reach,” he added.
“Terrorist activities are also spreading into sensitive border zones, such as the Tambacounda region, between Mali, Senegal, Guinea and Mauritania, and into protected areas like the Park W, Arly, and Pendjari, straddling Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These incursions threaten livelihoods, biodiversity, and eco-tourism—proving that no space is beyond the reach of violent extremism.”
The envoy warned that persistent political tensions among neighbouring states and the effects of climate change are fuelling extremist recruitment, while resources continue to be diverted to defence spending.
“We cannot ignore the impact of political tensions between neighbouring states in the region,” he said.
“These disputes undermine governance, erode cooperation, and create security gaps that terrorist and criminal networks exploit.
“Meanwhile, climate change continues to act as a threat multiplier—driving displacement, intensifying resource conflicts between farmers and herders, and forcing entire communities into precarious livelihoods. Terrorist groups exploit these vulnerabilities, embedding themselves in marginalised communities and using local grievances as recruitment tools.
“The Central Sahel is projected to spend $3.2bn on defence in 2025, diverting critical resources from education, health, and climate adaptation.”
He called for the adoption of a holistic approach that combines military interventions with investment in political dialogue, improved social services, and sustainable development, paying particular attention to youth and women.
“Another important component is action against transnational organised crime—including drug trafficking, illegal mining, and arms smuggling—that finances terrorism,” he said.
Simão also commended recent efforts by ECOWAS to preserve free movement with the alliance of Sahel states, as well as the cooperation between ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) to establish a Joint Threat Fusion and Analysis Cell for intelligence sharing.
