The United Nations has warned that terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria and the wider West Africa-Sahel region are increasingly adopting emerging technologies, including drones, advanced communication tools and cryptocurrencies, to expand their operations.
The warning was issued by Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, during a briefing to the United Nations Security Council on the security situation in the region.
Simão, who heads the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, said the use of these technologies is helping armed groups consolidate territorial and economic control while weakening public confidence in government institutions.
Presenting the latest report of the UN Secretary-General on developments in West Africa and the Sahel, he said violent extremist groups were adapting their methods by leveraging technology to strengthen their capabilities.
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