US Panel Says Africa Now World’s Most Active Terrorism Theatre

A US congressional panel has described Africa as the world’s most active terrorism theatre, citing the growing presence and activities of extremist groups across several regions of the continent.

The assessment comes as African countries continue to face threats from groups affiliated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda, particularly across the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, Somalia and parts of Central and East Africa.

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies said fatalities linked to militant Islamist violence in Africa had exceeded 20,000 for the fourth consecutive year, highlighting the resilience of extremist groups across the continent.

The US panel warned that the spread of terrorism in Africa posed wider security implications, particularly as extremist organisations exploit weak governance, porous borders, local conflicts and economic hardship to expand their influence.

The report also comes amid increased activity by Islamic State-linked groups in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. Recent assessments have highlighted efforts by affiliated groups to strengthen connections across the region and expand their territorial reach.

Security analysts have continued to call for stronger intelligence-sharing, regional cooperation and improved military and civilian capabilities to counter the threat.

The Africa Center noted that militant Islamist violence remained concentrated in several major theatres, while stressing the importance of African and international security partnerships in addressing the increasingly transnational nature of the threat.

The US assessment is expected to reinforce calls for greater international cooperation with African governments as they confront terrorism, violent extremism and other forms of organised insecurity.