U.S. Warns of Renewed ISIS Threat in Africa, Pledges Continued Counterterrorism Support
By Zagazola Makama
The United States has warned that parts of Africa are facing renewed extremist threats as remnants of the Islamic State (ISIS) regroup across the continent following their defeat in Iraq and Syria.
In a new counterterrorism strategy document, the U.S. government said jihadist groups linked to ISIS had splintered and relocated to Africa and parts of Central Asia, exploiting weak governance structures and fragile security systems.
According to the document, regions currently facing growing extremist threats include West Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, Mozambique, Sudan and Somalia.
The U.S. noted that while ISIS was declared territorially defeated in Iraq and Syria in 2017 after years of military operations backed by American forces, affiliated cells had since emerged in several conflict zones across Africa and other regions.
“As a result, today there are parts of Africa where a resurgent terror threat is the reality,” the strategy document stated.
The document specifically identified the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel — areas that include parts of northern Nigeria — as zones where extremist factions such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to operate.
It said the groups had maintained the capacity to control territories and launch attacks against military formations and civilian populations.
The U.S. outlined two major goals under its renewed Africa counterterrorism approach.
According to the strategy, the first objective is to prevent jihadist groups from establishing operational bases capable of planning and executing attacks against the United States and its global interests.
“The second is to protect Christians, who have been slaughtered at the hands of these jihadi groups,” the document added.
The U.S. government also stated that although it intends to reduce its broader global military footprint, it would continue targeted counterterrorism operations against extremist groups capable of threatening American interests.
Washington said it was rebuilding bilateral counterterrorism partnerships with African governments and would continue providing intelligence support, training and operational assistance to countries confronting ISIS and al-Qaeda-linked groups.
The strategy further stated that regional governments would be expected to shoulder a greater share of the counterterrorism burden going forward.
The U.S. also linked security cooperation with economic development, stressing that stability remained critical for prosperity across Africa.
According to the document, Africa possesses “almost limitless potential” if governments are able to maintain sovereign control over their territories and deny violent extremist groups safe havens.
