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Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Little-known region now 'epicentre of terrorism' and poses threat to the West
A US general has sent a stark warning about a part of the world he has dubbed the 'epicentre of terrorism' as he says several 'thriving' groups could pose a threat to the West A little-known region of the world is becoming the "the epicentre of terrorism" as several groups are "thriving" in the area, a top army general has warned. US Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley warned that the Sahel region of western Africa, which includes Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, was becoming a hub for danger in the region but militant groups there could also pose a threat to the West, he told the African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Kenya. Langley, who heads US Africa Command, said the three nations were "in crisis" as these groups continue to grow and work with larger terror organisations in other continents. He also warned that one of these countries was particularly in trouble. Some groups in the area are aligned with well known militant organisations, such as ISIS-Sahel and al Qaeda-adjacent Jama'at Nusrat ul Islam wa al Muslimin (JNIM). The general said: "The terrorist networks affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaida are thriving, particularly in Burkina Faso, where the government has lost control of wide swaths of territory across their sovereign nation. Attacks are resurging in the Lake Chad region as well, and extremist groups are growing more aggressive." Langley also said these militants had set their sights on expanding westward to Africa's coast, warning that it could give them easier access to the US. He said this could risk the groups becoming stronger as it would open up more illegal routes to make money. The general added: "If they secure access to the coastline, they can finance their operations through smuggling, human trafficking, and arms trading. This puts not just African nations at risk, but also increases the chance of threats reaching the US shores." Langley pointed out that the US was particularly concerned about the JNIM militant group, which has grown "fourfold" since 2022, saying it "could have the capacity to attack the homeland". The general added that the US had withdrawn it's troops from Niger in 2024 and claimed his country had not been able to closely follow terror activity there. The US had used Niger as its main base to monitor Jihadist groups in the area, but two countries reached a "disengagement" agreement in May 2024. The military junta, which seized control of the nation in 2023, had already kicked out French troops, and has appeared to build ties with Russia. He said: "Unfortunately, with our withdrawal from the region, we have lost our ability to monitor these terrorist groups closely but continue to liaison with partners to provide what support we can." Langley even said that attacks by extremist and terror groups in the area have increased since the US has withdrawn from the area. He warned: "The scale and brutality of some of these incidents are really troubling."
New York Post
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Terror networks ‘thriving' in Africa — could pose threat to US, top general warns: ‘Growing more aggressive'
The top US general in Africa warned Friday that terror groups in the Sahel region are 'thriving' and may eventually pose a threat to the homeland. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley described the Sahel region, which includes Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, as 'the epicenter of terrorism' in a press briefing at the African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. 'They're in crisis,' Langley, who heads US Africa Command, said of the three central African nations. Advertisement 'The terrorist networks affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaida are thriving, particularly in Burkina Faso, where the government has lost control of wide swaths of territory across their sovereign nation,' the general continued. 'Attacks are resurging in the Lake Chad region as well, and extremist groups are growing more aggressive.' Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of US Africa Command, warned that terror groups in the Sahel region may eventually be able to carry out attacks inside the US. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Terror groups in the region, which include ISIS-Sahel and al Qaeda-aligned Jama'at Nusrat ul Islam wa al Muslimin (JNIM), have recently set their sights on expanding westward, the general explained, which could provide them easier access to the US. 'One of the terrorists' new objectives is gaining access to West Africa coasts,' Langley said. 'If they secure access to the coastline, they can finance their operations through smuggling, human trafficking, and arms trading. 'This puts not just African nations at risk, but also increases the chance of threats reaching the US shores.' Langley noted that JNIM, which has expanded 'fourfold' since 2022, is of particular concern to the US. Advertisement 'We're keeping a good eye on this, because they could have the capacity to attack the homeland,' he said of the group. Langley described the Sahel region as the 'epicenter of terrorism.' AFP via Getty Images In a massive blow to counterterrorism operations, the US military withdrew from Niger last year after the governing junta ended an agreement that had allowed American troops to operate out of the country. Langley indicated that in the months since the withdrawal, the US has not been able to keep as close an eye on the terror groups in the region. Advertisement 'Unfortunately, with our withdrawal from the region, we have lost our ability to monitor these terrorist groups closely but continue to liaison with partners to provide what support we can,' the general said. 'Since we've left Niger … we're observing a rise in attacks by violent extremist organizations, not only in Niger but across the Sahel,' Langley said, noting that attacks are growing in both 'frequency and complexity.' 'The scale and brutality of some of these incidents are really troubling.' To counter the terror surge, Langley said the US is pursuing 'opportunities to collaborate' with Sahel-region nations, including Burkina Faso and Nigeria.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Africa terror group could soon strike inside the US, general says
The U.S. military's top general in Africa said terrorist factions in the Sahel region have increased their presence so much in the past three years that they soon may be able to launch attacks within the United States. The region, which mainly includes Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, is 'the flash point of prolonged conflict and growing instability,' U.S. Africa Command head Gen. Michael Langley told reporters Thursday. 'It is the epicenter of terrorism on the globe.' 'Extremist groups are gaining ground and also expanding their ambitions. Therein lies the threat to the homeland,' he added on the sidelines of the African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Sahel countries have long struggled to combat violent extremist groups, with some facing greater instability after falling to military coups, U.S. officials have warned. The military juntas in power have forced out American and French troops, including in September 2024, when the U.S. completed a withdrawal from its bases in Niger after the military seized power in 2023. At the time, defense leaders predicted the pullout would endanger counterterrorism efforts in an important regional foothold. Langley reiterated those concerns, saying that 'we have lost our ability to monitor these terrorist groups closely.' He said terrorist networks affiliated with ISIS and al Qaeda thrive in the region, particularly in Burkina Faso — where the government no longer controls large swaths of its own territory — as well as Lake Chad, located at the junction of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon in Western and Central Africa. Langley said one group that is of particular concern is Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM, which has expanded 'fourfold' since 2022 and now controls much of Burkina Faso. He said one of the militants' key goals is gaining access to the West African coast. Should they control the coastline, they can finance their operations through smuggling, human trafficking and arms trade, 'more easily supporting terrorism to American shores.' Langley's warnings come as the Trump administration has canceled aid programs across Africa and is mulling consolidating its forces on the continent. China and Russia have moved to fill the void left by departing U.S. troops, investing and forming partnerships with local governments to exert influence. Langley would not say if the U.S would further cut its force levels in Africa but stressed that African militaries will need to bear more of the security burden. 'Our strategy is about partnership. It's about the mutual goal of keeping homelands, both ours and our partners', safe,' he said. 'It's about building a long-term capacity, not dependence. It's about investing in Africa's ability to solve African problems.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
US Africa commander highlights terror growth in Sahel and competition with China for influence
A top United States military general warned Thursday that terror groups in Africa are ramping up their ability to conduct attacks in the U.S. Gen. Michael Langley, the four-star Marine General who leads U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), said the Sahel region of the continent is now the "flashpoint of prolonged conflict and growing instability. It is the epicenter of terrorism on the globe." Several terror groups have expanded drastically in the last three years. Al-Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, is three times the size it was in 2022, he said, and has spread across Mali, Burkina Faso, and parts of Niger, which the U.S. military pulled out of last year. Isis Increasingly Unopposed Following Us Withdrawal From Afghanistan, Collapse Of Syria Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, a faction affiliated with Al-Qaeda, is now four times the size it was in 2022, expanding mainly in Burkina Faso. "We're keeping a good eye on this because they could have the capacity to attack the homeland," Langley said in a call with reporters. Read On The Fox News App "Throughout my travels across West Africa and through dialog here at the conference, the concerns shared by my peers match my own," he added. "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." Lone Wolf Attacks Surge In The West As Terrorism Intensifies Globally He noted that the terror groups engage in illicit activity like smuggling, human trafficking and arms trading, which fund their nefarious actions and destabilize the region. U.S. forces over the weekend conducted an airstrike against the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab in Somalia. The East African country has been wracked for decades by attacks and insurgency from Islamist terrorists, both from ISIS and al-Shabab. The U.S. is in a race with China and Russia to gain influence and trust with the local governments of several African nations to help protect citizens from terror groups. Langley said there is an increasing concern about the number of African soldiers going to Beijing for military training and replicating a U.S. International Military Education and Training (IMET) program. "They're trying to replicate what we do best in our IMET program," said Langley. "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."Original article source: US Africa commander highlights terror growth in Sahel and competition with China for influence
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
US conducts airstrike against Al Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia
U.S. forces conducted an airstrike against the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab over the weekend in Somalia. The airstrike by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) targeted an area nearly 40 miles northwest of Kismayo, Somalia, where al-Shabab was reportedly located. According to a press release from AFRICOM, al-Shabab "has proven both its will and capability to attack U.S. forces." "AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take action to degrade al-Shabab's ability to plan and conduct attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, our forces, and our citizens abroad," the press release read. Trump Takes Swipe At Biden, Says Us Will Support Somalia Against Houthis No further details about units and assets were released to ensure continued security of operations. Read On The Fox News App The East African country of Somalia has been wracked for decades by attacks and insurgency from Islamist terrorists, both from ISIS and al-Shabab. U.S. Africa Command reported in April that it had carried out four airstrikes: three against ISIS terrorists and one against al-Shabab. At least one of these strikes, the command stated, was against multiple targets. Trump Says He Ordered Airstrikes On Isis Leaders In Somalia For years, the U.S. has helped Somali forces with airstrikes and other support against the al-Shabab extremist group. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in March, drafted a letter to Trump offering the U.S. exclusive access to air bases and seaports, which reignited tensions between the government of Somalia and the breakaway region of Somaliland, the Associated Press reported. Isis Increasingly Unopposed Following Us Withdrawal From Afghanistan, Collapse Of Syria In the letter, Somalia offered "exclusive operational control" over the Berbera and Baledogle air bases and the ports of Berbera and Bosaso to "bolster American engagement in the region." One of the ports, Berbera, is in a key city located in Somaliland, whose long assertion as an independent state has not received international recognition. Somaliland, a former British protectorate, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the central government. It maintains its own government, security forces and currency and has held elections. Fox News Digital's Paul Tilsley and The Associated Press contributed to this article source: US conducts airstrike against Al Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia
