The Sahel region has experienced a devastating surge in terrorist attacks against civilian and military targets in recent months.
The United Nations, UN envoy, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, who made this comments while addressing the UN Security Council, said the unprecedented terrorist violence had shaken public confidence in the region.
He added that attacks had increased five-fold in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic since 2016.
More than four thousand deaths were reported in 2019, compared with an estimated 770 deaths three years before.
In another development, Kenya has imposed a curfew in Lamu, three days after fighters from the Islamist militant group al-Shabab stormed into a military base and killing three Americans.
The coastal region, Lamu is close to the Somali border, where al-Shabab has been fighting the UN-backed government.
County Police chief, Muchangi Kioi said no vehicles will be allowed to operate during the curfew period, and that the Police will conduct security searches on vehicles during the day.
