UN warns of urgent need for international support in fighting violent extremism in Africa's Sahel region.

The expansion of armed groups linked to ISIL and al-Qaeda in Africa's Sahel region is increasing, warns UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee. Without greater international support and regional cooperation, the instability will increase towards West African coastal countries. The counterterrorism force, comprised of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger, has not conducted any big military operations since January. Pobee criticised the international community for leaving the joint force without sufficient funding and other needed support to become fully operational and autonomous.