The United States has warned that extremist groups linked to ISIS and al Qaeda are increasingly shifting their operations to parts of Africa, including West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin, following the collapse of ISIS strongholds in Iraq and Syria.
In its 2026 counterterrorism strategy document, the US identified Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region as key fronts in the growing fight against terrorism, describing the resurgence of extremist activity across Africa as a major global security concern.
According to the document, surviving remnants of ISIS have relocated to Africa and Central Asia, taking advantage of weak security systems and poorly governed territories.
“President Trump unleashed the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen, and within a matter of weeks, a Jihadi insurgency which controlled vast territories across Iraq and Syria was gone,” the strategy stated.
It added that after losing territory in the Middle East, members of the extremist group moved into regions where state control remains limited.
“As a result, today, there are parts of Africa where a resurgent terror threat is the reality. These include in West Africa, the Sahel region, the Lake Chad Basin, Mozambique, Sudan, and of course Somalia, where parts of ISIS have re-established themselves and Al Shabaab maintains its tribal-based Islamist insurgency,” the document said.
The US government said one of its main objectives on the continent would be preventing extremist organisations from establishing operational bases capable of launching attacks against American interests and allies.
“We will continue to work together with governments threatened by groups like ISIS and al Qaeda affiliates who threaten us as well, and assist them with actionable intelligence and CT partner-force development until our shared foes no longer pose a serious threat to either them or us,” the document noted.
The strategy also stated that protecting Christians targeted by terrorist organisations would remain a priority for the administration.
While pledging continued cooperation with African governments, Washington indicated that it intends to maintain a lighter military presence on the continent and instead rely more heavily on intelligence sharing and partnerships with regional security forces.
“We will continue to work together with governments threatened by groups like ISIS and al Qaeda affiliates who threaten us as well, and assist them with actionable intelligence and CT partner-force development,” the strategy reiterated.
The document further criticised counterterrorism policies under former US President Joe Biden, claiming extremist groups were able to regroup across Africa during that period.
Referencing Nigeria, the strategy praised actions reportedly taken by President Donald Trump in response to attacks on Christians in the country.
“With the decisive action President Trump recently took in Nigeria, he made it clear that the slaughter of Christians will not go unchecked,” the document stated.
It also quoted Trump as saying on Christmas Day in 2025: “I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
Despite plans to reduce direct military deployments, the US said it would continue supporting African nations through intelligence cooperation and coordinated counterterrorism operations.
According to the strategy, African countries possess “almost limitless potential” if governments are able to strengthen territorial control and deny extremist groups safe havens.
