Experts of the UN Indicate the Threat from ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Africa

• The threat from ISIS and Al-Qaeda is increasing in Africa and Syria.
• The JNIM group has expanded its control in western Africa.
• Financial difficulties of ISIS are reducing the salaries of fighters.

According to a new report from UN experts, the threat from extremists ISIS and Al-Qaeda is most intense in certain regions of Africa. Risks are also increasing in Syria, where groups are considered to be a "strategic base for external operations." The report was presented to the UN Security Council on July 31, 2025.

In western Africa, a group linked to Al-Qaeda, known as Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), and the Al-Shabab group in East Africa continue to expand their control over the territory. Experts noted that the shift of focus to Africa occurs partly due to the loss of ISIS in the Near East as a result of counter-terrorism efforts.

Along with the report, ISIS remains the largest threat to Europe and America, often through individuals who radicalize via social media. In the USA, there has been a low number of terrorist attacks motivated by conflict in Gaza and Israel.

In Africa, the Sahel region has become a place for the expansion of JNIM operations, a group that operates "with a regional freedom" in northern Mali and most of Burkina Faso. ISIS has also intensified its activities in the Greater Sahara, particularly along the borders with Niger and Nigeria.

The situation in Syria remains unstable, six months after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, with increasing risks that they could establish ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Currently, more than 5,000 foreign terrorists are involved in military operations in Damascus.

Experts also noted that financial difficulties of ISIS are increasing. Salaries of fighters have decreased to $50-70 per month, which indicates financial problems within the organization. Groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS are employing various methods to obtain funding, including taxes from local communities and extortion with the aim of ransom.

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