A high-ranking United States military general issued a warning on Thursday regarding the growing capability of terrorist organizations in Africa to carry out attacks within the U.S.
General Michael Langley, a four-star Marine General who commands U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), stated that the Sahel region of Africa has become a critical area of prolonged conflict and escalating instability, identifying it as the “epicenter of terrorism on the globe.”
General Langley highlighted the significant expansion of several terror groups over the past three years. He noted that Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has tripled in size since 2022 and has extended its presence across Mali, Burkina Faso, and parts of Niger, the latter from which the U.S. military withdrew last year. Additionally, Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda, has quadrupled in size since 2022, primarily expanding its operations within Burkina Faso.
During a call with reporters, General Langley expressed concern, stating, “We’re keeping a good eye on this because they could have the capacity to attack the homeland.” He further added, “Throughout my travels across West Africa and through dialog here at the conference, the concerns shared by my peers match my own. One of the terrorist’s key goals now is access to the west coast of Africa. If they gain access to the vast coastline, they can diversify their revenue streams and evolve their tactics, more easily exporting terrorism to American shores.”
General Langley pointed out that these terror groups are involved in illicit activities such as smuggling, human trafficking, and arms trading, which serve as funding sources for their operations and further destabilize the region.
Over the weekend, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike against al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group in Somalia. This East African nation has endured decades of attacks and insurgency from Islamist terrorists, including both ISIS and al-Shabab. The U.S. is engaged in a competition with China and Russia to build influence and trust with African governments to help protect their citizens from these terror groups.
General Langley also raised concerns about the increasing number of African military personnel attending military training in Beijing, which he likened to a replication of the U.S. International Military Education and Training (IMET) program. He commented, “They’re trying to replicate what we do best in our IMET program. And then they also said they’re going to increase security and training in a number of countries. So, they’re trying to replicate what we do.
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