U.S. Africa Chief Warns of Terror Surge in Sahel and Rivals China for Regional Clout

A senior U.S. military leader cautioned on Thursday that terror groups In Africa, they are enhancing their capability to carry out assaults within the U.S.

General Michael Langley, the four-star Marine General commanding the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), stated that the Sahel area of the continent has become the "center of enduring conflict and increasing unrest." He described this region as "the global hotbed of terrorism."

Multiple terrorist organizations have seen significant growth over the past three years. According to him, Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has tripled in size since 2022 and has extended its reach into Mali, Burkina Faso, and portions of Niger. U.S. military extracted from last year.

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The group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which is associated with Al-Qaeda, has quadrupled in size since 2022, largely growing within Burkina Faso.

"We're closely monitoring this situation as they might be able to threaten our home soil," Langley stated during a conference call with journalists.

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"Throughout my travels across West Africa And during the discussions at this conference, I found that the worries expressed by my colleagues align with mine," he said. "A primary objective for terrorists today is gaining entry to the western coast of Africa. With control over such an extensive shoreline, they could expand their financial resources and refine their strategies, making it simpler to spread terror onto American soil.

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He pointed out that terrorist organizations participate in illegal activities such as smuggling, human trafficking, and weapons dealing, which finance their harmful operations and disrupt the stability of the area.

Over the weekend, U.S. troops carried out an airstrike against al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab in Somalia. This East African nation has faced continuous assaults and insurgencies led by Islamist extremists, including groups affiliated with ISIS, for several decades. al-Shabab .

The United States is in a competition with China and Russia aim to secure influence and build trust with the local administrations of multiple African countries to assist in safeguarding residents against terrorist organizations.

Langley expressed growing concerns over the rising number of African troops attending military training in Beijing, which seems to be mimicking a U.S. International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.

Langley stated, "They aim to duplicate our successes with the IMET program, and they additionally mentioned boosting security measures and enhancing training in several nations. Thus, their objective is to mimic what we accomplish."

Original article source: The U.S. Africa commander underscores the rise of terrorism in the Sahel region and the rivalry with China over influence.