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Sahel Extremist Networks Surge, US General Warns of Homeland Threat

Gen. Michael Langley warns the 2024 pullout from Niger has undermined US oversight, enabling Sahel jihadist groups to finance operations via coastal smuggling routes.

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Gen. Michael Langley of the Marine Corps and head of the U.S. Africa Command said Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a terrorist organization based in northern Africa, and Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a Mali-based group, have expanded in Africa and could be looking to do the same in the United States. (AP FILE)
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Overview

  • Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has tripled in size since 2022 and Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin has grown fourfold, extending across Mali, Burkina Faso and parts of Niger.
  • Langley describes the Sahel as the “epicenter of terrorism on the globe,” noting that attacks by ISIS and al-Qaida affiliates are rising in both frequency and sophistication.
  • Jihadist factions are targeting West African coasts to diversify funding through smuggling, human trafficking and arms trading.
  • The 2024 withdrawal of US troops from Niger has eroded American monitoring capacity, raising concerns about unchecked extremist activity.
  • China’s expanding military education and training partnerships in Africa are reshaping the regional security landscape and competing with US influence.