Africa is facing a major escalation in security crises, with more than 50 armed conflicts recorded across the continent in 2025, accounting for nearly 40% of the global total. In 2024 alone, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa accounted for more than half of the 7,555 terrorism-related deaths recorded worldwide.
Instability in the Sahel is now spilling beyond its traditional borders, severely affecting West African coastal countries. The spread of asymmetric threats toward the Gulf of Guinea is forcing regional structures to adapt to an evolving criminal landscape. Against a backdrop of intertwined institutional and climate vulnerabilities, the African Union is seeking to coordinate resilience efforts across the continent. However, the sustainability of military operations continues to suffer from a lack of multilateral funding and representation at the United Nations. The absence of international consensus on mandatory contributions is weakening the global support these missions require. Since 2020, these combined crises have forcibly displaced 45.7 million people across the continent.
Africa is facing a worrying escalation in security crises. In 2025, the continent accounted for more than 50 armed conflicts, representing nearly 40% of conflicts worldwide. In 2024 alone, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa recorded more than half of the 7,555 terrorism-related deaths globally. Against this complex backdrop, responses must be comprehensive and interconnected. The instability has deep roots in the deteriorating situation in the Sahel, a crisis that is now spilling beyond its original borders and affecting West African coastal countries.
“I remember that the greatest instability in the Sahel region began in 2012, with the attack on Agadez. At that time, there were terrorist and jihadist groups supported by Ansar Dine, as well as Tuareg and separatist groups. That is when instability began to increase in different areas, from the Ménaka region to the centre, the tri-border area between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, and now the Sahel and western regions of Mali. As I said earlier, these are not issues limited to the Sahel, because we can now see how the situation is evolving in coastal countries such as Benin. Benin is deploying some of its army positions, while attempted attacks are affecting Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Burkina Faso. This means that the threat is not concentrated solely in the Sahel but is also spreading to countries bordering the Sahel region, including Mauritania and Algeria. Africa is facing serious challenges today.”
Moussa Kondo, Executive Director, Sahel Institute – Mali
The geographical expansion of asymmetric threats toward the Gulf of Guinea demonstrates that regional security structures must urgently adapt to an ever-changing criminal environment, where institutional and climate vulnerabilities are increasingly intertwined.
“Africa is facing a complex and evolving security environment. We are talking about terrorism and violent extremism. We are talking about organized crime networks. We are talking about conflicts and governance challenges. All these challenges undermine the stability and development of our continent. These challenges require a renewed commitment from this critical committee.”
Neema Nicholaus Chusi, Director of the Secretariat, African Union Peace and Security Council – Tanzania
To effectively support this continent-wide collective commitment and sustain the operations of African forces, the issue of representation and multilateral financing within global decision-making bodies remains a major and unresolved geopolitical challenge.
“I regret that the Security Council has failed to reach a consensus on financing through mandatory contributions. If the AU mission in Somalia does not warrant global support, then what does? The absence of a permanent seat for Africa on the Security Council is indefensible. We are in 2026, not 1946. Whatever decisions concerning Africa and the world are on the table, Africa must be present at the Council.”
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations – Portugal
As crises since 2020 have displaced 45.7 million people across the continent, the African Peace and Security Architecture is seeking to coordinate regional resilience. However, continued reliance on external funding and the need for a sovereign voice at the United Nations underscore the urgency of rebalancing international partnerships to ensure lasting stability.
