The Tactics Institute for Security and Defense calls for urgent international attention following warnings from the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) about the Islamic State’s (ISIS) accelerated expansion in Africa.
Brett Holmgren, NCTC Director, recently highlighted Africa as ISIS’s new strategic frontier, posing a long-term threat to the U.S. and global security.
The ISIS threat in Africa is one of the greatest long-term risks to U.S. interests,
Holmgren stated.
ISIS branches, including affiliates in Nigeria, Mozambique, and Somalia, exploit governance gaps, social divisions, and instability to expand their reach. The Sahel region, encompassing Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, is particularly volatile. These groups, while currently focused on local insurgencies, could shift toward external attacks, targeting U.S. and Western interests.
The situation is compounded by geopolitical tensions. Recent coups in Mali and Niger ousted Western-leaning governments, inviting Russian-aligned mercenaries into the region. This shift undermines counterterrorism efforts, weakening U.S. and French influence in favour of opportunistic actors like the Wagner Group.
The Tactics Institute stresses the need to coordinate efforts with African nations and global allies to prevent extremist groups from exploiting power vacuums. World authorities must address underlying issues of poor governance and socio-economic disparities to reduce the appeal of extremist ideologies.
As global attention shifts toward great power competition, the growing ISIS threat in Africa cannot be sidelined. Effective, coordinated action is crucial to prevent the continent from becoming a breeding ground for transnational terrorism.
