The United States has identified Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin as major fronts in its 2026 counterterrorism strategy, warning that extremist groups across Africa continue to pose a growing threat to global security.
In the strategy document released by the US government, Washington said parts of Africa, including West Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, Mozambique, Sudan and Somalia, have experienced a resurgence of terrorist activities following the collapse of Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria.
According to the document, remnants of ISIS and affiliated jihadist groups relocated to Africa and Central Asia, taking advantage of ungoverned territories and weak security systems.
“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 document stated.
It added that surviving members of the extremist group subsequently moved into parts of Africa and Central Asia, where “a resurgent terror threat is the reality.”
The strategy identified West Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, Mozambique, Sudan and Somalia as regions where extremist groups had strengthened operations. It also noted that Al-Shabaab continues to maintain an insurgency in Somalia.
The US said one of its main objectives in Africa would be preventing extremist organisations from establishing operational bases capable of targeting American interests.
“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 counterterrorism partner-force development until our shared foes no longer pose a serious threat,” the document said.
Washington also stated that protecting Christians targeted by terrorist groups would remain a priority under the administration.
According to the strategy, the US plans to strengthen bilateral counterterrorism cooperation with African governments while reducing direct military deployments across the continent.
The document criticised counterterrorism policies under former US President Joe Biden, claiming they weakened efforts against extremist groups and allowed terrorist organisations to regroup across Africa.
Referencing Nigeria specifically, the strategy praised recent actions taken by US President Donald Trump over 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.”
The US said it would maintain a “light military footprint” in Africa while encouraging regional governments to assume greater responsibility for counterterrorism efforts through intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.
According to the strategy, African countries possess “almost limitless potential” if governments are able to maintain territorial control and prevent terrorist organisations from establishing safe havens.
