US Counterterrorism Operations in Africa

 Eurasia Review published on 10 June 2026 an article titled "The Head of US Africa Command Testifies before Congress on American Counter-Terrorism Operations in Africa--Analysis" by Daniel Volman, director of the Africa Security Research Project in Washington.

This is a wide-ranging discussion of US efforts to counter terrorism in Africa.  It includes testimony in May before Congress by Dagvin Anderson, Commander of the U.S. Africa Command, and additional comments by other Trump administration officials.  The focus is on terrorist threats in Nigeria, the Sahel, and Somalia.  

Africa and Global Terrorism Index 2026

 The Institute for Economics and Peace posted on 30 March 2026 its "Global Terrorism Index 2026."

Of the ten countries most impacted by terrorism globally in 2025, six were in Africa: Burkina Faso (2), Niger (3), Nigeria (4), Mali (5), Somalia (7) and Democratic Republic of Congo (8).  Nevertheless, deaths in sub-Saharan Africa fell in ten countries while rising in just four.  Deaths in the Sahel region, however, accounted for more than half of all terrorism-related deaths globally.

Terrorism remains highly concentrated.  Just under 70 percent of deaths from terrorism occurred in only five countries: Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the DRC.  Nigeria recorded the largest increase in 2025, with fatalities rising by 46 percent to 750.  Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram were responsible for 80 percent of all terrorism deaths in Nigeria.

The DRC also reported a significant increase in terrorism, reaching its worst ever position on the index.  Deaths in the DRC rose by nearly 28 percent to 467, driven by attacks carried out by the IS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces, which targeted civilians, churches, hospitals, and funerals.

Somalia's al-Shabaab, while experiencing a decline in terrorist deaths for the third consecutive year, launched its Shabelle Offensive in early 2025.  

US-Nigeria Relations Hit a New Low

 The International Crisis Group published on 7 November 2025 an analysis titled "Why Is President Trump Threatening a Humanitarian Intervention in Nigeria?" by Nnamdi Obasi, the Crisis Group's senior adviser for Nigeria.  

The author reviews the background of President Trump's threat to engage militarily in Nigeria to protect Christians and describes the current situation in the country.  He points out that the US-Nigerian rift has brought bilateral ties to their lowest point since the 1970s, when the two countries were at odds on how to end apartheid in South Africa.

Trump's Nigeria Delusion

 World Politics Review published on 6 November 2025 a commentary titled "Trump's Nigeria Delusion."

The commentary reviews Boko Haram's jihadi attacks in Nigeria and compares President Trump's proposed response similar to his striking of small boats off Venezuela.  The commentary concludes: "Trumps crusade in Nigeria is detached from a realistic understanding of what is happening there.  In this case it seems to be the product of lobbying from evangelical Christians among his MAGA base."

Why Is Trump Threatening Nigeria?

 The BBC published on 6 November 2025 an article titled "Are Christians Being Persecuted in Nigeria as Trump Claims?" by Olaronke Alo, Chiamaka Enendu, and Ijeoma Ndukwe.

President Trump's claim that Nigeria, which is about equally divided between Muslims and Christians, is persecuting Christians apparently stems from attacks in northern Nigeria by the jihadi organization Boko Haram that began in 2009.  The BBC looks at the numbers killed over the years and concludes Boko Haram probably has killed more Muslims than Christians.  In any event, the government of Nigeria strongly opposes Boko Haram.  

Nigerian Air Force Adds Chinese Drones to Inventory

Military Africa published on 22 September 2025 an article titled "Nigerian Air Force Acquires Chinese Sky Whale Drones for Training" by Ekene Lionel.

The Nigerian Air Force has acquired Chinese Sky Whale Max hybrid vertical take-off and landing drones to address the persistent security challenges from Boko Haram in the northeast to banditry and oil theft in the south.  

The Air Force already has China's CH-4 medium-altitude drone for armed reconnaissance, the Wing Loong II for precision strikes with laser-guided munitions, and the CH-3B for tactical support.  The acquisition of Sky Whale drones deepens Sino-Nigerian ties, fostering technology transfers that could result in local assembly lines.

Nigerian Delegation Visits China to Look at Air Defense Systems

 Military Africa posted on 1 May 2025 an article titled "Nigeria Looks to China's Norinco to Bolster Fledging Air Defence Structure" by Ekene Lionel.

A high-level delegation from the Nigerian Air Force recently visited China to look at updating its radar coverage and air defense systems.  Nigeria has an ongoing defense relationship with Norinco and has procured a wide variety of combat systems from China, which is looking to expand its military and economic influence in the country.

Chinese Counterterrorism in Africa

 The Stimson Center published on 31 July 2024 an analysis titled "Chinese Counterterrorism in Africa" by Cobus van Staden.

China's approach to counterterrorism in Africa blurs the lines between crime and terrorism on both sides of the relationship.  This analysis emphasizes the role of non-state actors in the context of low state capacity and explains some of the factors that inform the limitations of Chinese counterterrorism approaches in Africa.

US Loses Ground to Russia in Africa's Sahel Region

 The Hill published on 1 May 2024 an article titled "US Losing Ground to Russia in Geopolitical Battle Over Africa" by Brad Dress.

As French and American forces are asked to leave countries in the Sahel region of Africa, they are being replaced by small numbers of Russian troops from the newly formed Africa Corps.

Comment:  While this situation does decrease the influence of France and the United States in the Sahel region, it puts a responsibility on Russia that it almost certainly will not be able to meet.  Russia will now be expected to counter the growing threat from ISIS and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in the Sahel, a challenge that it is not prepared to deal with, especially as it remains bogged down in a war with Ukraine.  

The Evolution of Africa's Militant Islamic Groups

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 9 August 2022 an analysis titled "Sahel and Somalia Drive Rise in Africa's Militant Islamist Group Violence."

This study provides an infomap that identifies the location of attacks in Africa by militant Islamist groups from 2013 through 2022.  In 2021 and 2022, most of the attacks occurred in Somalia, Kenya, Mozambique, Chad, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Cote d'Ivoire.  

Chinese in Africa Increasingly Subject to Kidnapping

 The Voice of America posted on 24 May 2022 an article titled "Chinese Working in Africa Face Threat of Kidnapping" by Kate Bartlett.

As Chinese nationals become more numerous in Africa, are perceived to carry a significant amount of cash, and have a track record of paying ransom, they are increasingly subject to kidnapping.  This report looks at cases in Nigeria and the DRC.

Africa Is the New Epicenter of Global Jihadi Terror

 The CTC Sentinel published in September 2021 an article titled "Twenty Years after 9/11: The Threat in Africa--The New Epicenter of Global Jihadi Terror" by Tricia Bacon, American University, and Jason Warner, West Point.  

The authors point out that Africa has become the global epicenter of jihadi violence.  The persistence of al-Qaeda affiliates, the rise of Islamic State partners, the endurance of facilitating domestic African social conditions, and ineffective counterterrorism efforts have led to this alarming outcome.  A US commitment to countering jihadi violence will improve its position in Africa vis-a-vis China and Russia.  

Nigeria-Russia Military Agreement

 Reuters published on 26 August 2021 an article titled "Nigeria Signs Military Cooperation Agreement with Russia."

Nigeria and Russia have signed a military cooperation deal that provides military equipment, after sales services, training of personnel, and technology transfer for Nigeria.  This deal follows a reluctance by the United States to provide weapons to Nigeria over human rights concerns.  

Reasons Why the US Should Not Pull Troops Out of Africa

 A recent issue of Prism published an article titled "No Competition without Presence: Should the US Leave Africa?" by Katherine Zimmerman, American Enterprise Institute.  

The author argues that the minuscule dollars and troops supporting U.S. efforts in Africa accomplish much more in terms of influence and effects than their redeployment to other theaters will in the competitive global field.  Reducing those assets too much will strain AFRICOM's ability to operate effectively.  To increase America's bang for the buck AFRICOM must innovate and transform its counterterrorism approach in partnership with the State Department and USAID in order to achieve enduring gains against the Salafi-jihadi movement, and cultivate strong African partnerships to counter Chinese and Russian influence on the continent.  

US Looking to Draw Down Troops in Africa

The New York Times published an article on 24 December 2019 titled "Pentagon Eyes Africa Drawdown as First Step in Global Troop Shift" by Helene Cooper, Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Charlie Savage, and Eric Schmitt.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper is considering proposals to draw down US troops in Africa and possibly a complete pullout from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso as the Pentagon refocuses on security concerns raised by China and Russia. The US has between 6,000 and 7,000 troops in Africa, mostly in the Horn of Africa and West Africa.

Beyond Counterterrorism: Defeating the Salafi-Jihadi Movement

The American Enterprise Institute published in October 2019 a study titled "Beyond Counterterrorism: Defeating the Salafi-Jihadi Movement" by Katherine Zimmerman.

This detailed study includes two especially useful maps on pages 47-48 that identify the global networks across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia of both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Any Point in Dialogue with Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram?

The Institute for Security Studies published on 24 July 2019 a policy brief titled "How Viable Is Dialogue with Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram?" by Akinola Olojo.

The author notes that the campaign against terror groups in the Lake Chad Basin and Horn of Africa relies heavily on the use of force as a strategy. However, this approach is not providing a sustainable solution. Although dialogue with terror groups is a sensitive and complex undertaking, he argues it needs to be explored as a policy option that can complement existing counter-terrorism approaches.

The Islamic State in Africa

The CTC Sentinel published in August 2018 an article titled "The Islamic State in Africa: Estimating Fighter Numbers in Cells Across the Continent" by Jason Warner, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Charlotte Hulme, PhD candidate at Yale.

This article is an overview of the approximate number of fighters in various Islamic State cells in Africa as of July 2018. The authors' best estimates suggest the presence of approximately 6,000 Islamic State fighters in Africa today, spread over a total of nine Islamic State cells. By far the largest cell is the Islamic State West African Province, formerly known as Boko Haram. In descending order, the next largest Islamic State cells are found in the Sinai, Libya, Greater Sahara, and Somalia.

Somalia: The Suicide Bombers of Al-Shabaab

The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point published in February 2018 a study titled "Targeted Terror: The Suicide Bombers of Al-Shabaab" by Jason Warner and Ellen Chapin.

This is a comprehensive account on the emergence, evolution, and efficacy of al-Shabaab's suicide bombers. Al-Shabaab has deployed at least 216 suicide bombers who carried out 155 suicide attacks, killing at least 595 and as many as 2,218 people. The most frequent targets are personnel and symbols of the Somali state and of the international community such as the AMISOM mission and United Nations.

Nigeria, China, and the Rosewood Racket

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a London and Washington-based environmental advocacy organization, published in October 2017 a report titled "The Rosewood Racket: China's Billion Dollar Illegal Timber Trade and the Devastation of Nigeria's Forests."

Most of the billion dollars' worth of wood exported by Nigeria over the past four years was illegal. According to EIA, Chinese businessmen and Nigerian officials were largely responsible for these illegal exports to China.