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A top US military official has warned that terrorist organizations in Africa are rapidly expanding and could gain the capability to launch attacks against the United States.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Africa has been facing a growing terrorism crisis, particularly in the Sahel, a region stretching across parts of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and northern Nigeria. This region has become a hotbed for extremist activity due to recurring military coups, weak governance, ethnic tensions, and vast ungoverned spaces that allow militant groups to operate freely. Major terrorist organizations active in the Sahel include Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate; Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS); Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP); and Boko Haram, which originally emerged in Nigeria but has since expanded its footprint into neighboring Sahelian states. These groups sustain their operations through kidnapping for ransom, illegal taxation, extortion, drug and arms smuggling, and human trafficking. Their presence has created a deeply unstable security environment, with some governments, such as Burkina Faso, losing control over large portions of their territory.
What’s going on now: While speaking at the African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, General Michael Langley, head of US Africa Command, warned about the worsening security crisis in the Sahel. He described the region as “the epicenter of terrorism on the globe” and “the flashpoint of prolonged conflict and growing instability.” Langley noted that terrorist organizations affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaeda are not only growing in size but also in capability. Of particular concern is JNIM, which he said has expanded since 2022 and now controls significant territory in Burkina Faso. General Langley said these groups are “thriving” in Burkina Faso.
Langley also warned about the threat these groups pose to the United States, noting that “We’re keeping a good eye on this because they could have the capacity to attack the homeland.” He also warned that the terrorist groups are seeking to make their way to the coastline, where they could expand “their operations through smuggling, human trafficking, and arms trading.” He added, “This puts not just African nations at risk, but also increases the chance of threats reaching the US shores.”
This all comes as geopolitical competition in the Sahel intensifies, with rivals like China and Russia stepping in to fill voids left by the US as it “reassesses” its foreign policy abroad. General Langley noted that China is actively working to replicate American military training programs, particularly through expanded security and defense partnerships with African nations.
“They’re trying to replicate what we do best in our [International Military Education and Training] program,” he noted, adding that Beijing has committed to increasing its military engagement across the continent. Russia, meanwhile, has continued deploying troops and formed security alliances with many Sahelian governments, particularly after military coups that resulted in US and French forces being expelled.
