U.S. Warns of Al-Qaeda Expansion in Mali and the Sahel

United Nations, November 18, 2025 - Mike Waltz, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, issued a stark warning regarding the deteriorating security situation in Mali and the wider Sahel region. Speaking at the UN on November 18, Waltz described the situation as catastrophic, noting that Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists have effectively paralyzed Mali by targeting and blocking fuel supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian and security crisis.

Waltz emphasized that the threat is not confined to Mali alone, but is spreading southward. He cited recent terrorist attacks in Benin and Togo as evidence of the expansion of extremist influence in West Africa. According to the Ambassador, these developments indicate that Al-Qaeda is actively seeking to seize control of the entire country, with implications for regional stability and international security efforts.

The statement underscores the urgency for coordinated international and regional responses to prevent further territorial and humanitarian collapse in Mali and the Sahel.