US General Warns Africa Terror Surge Threatens American Homeland

The United States may be thousands of miles from the Sahel region of Africa, but according to a top U.S. general, the growing terror threat there is coming dangerously close to American shores.

Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), issued a stark warning Thursday that jihadist groups in West Africa are not only expanding but may soon have the operational capability to strike the United States.

“The Sahel is now the epicenter of terrorism on the globe,” Langley said, noting that al-Qaeda affiliates like AQIM have tripled in size since 2022, while Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin has quadrupled, particularly in Burkina Faso.

These groups have filled the vacuum left by the U.S. withdrawal from Niger, and now their reach is spreading rapidly. Langley pointed to alarming ambitions: jihadist groups are eyeing access to the West African coast, which would give them a launchpad for smuggling, arms trading, and eventually attacks abroad including on the U.S. homeland.

“If they gain access to the vast coastline,” Langley explained, “they can diversify their revenue streams and evolve their tactics, more easily exporting terrorism to American shores.”

The threats aren’t just theoretical. In Somalia, U.S. forces recently launched an airstrike against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked faction that has long destabilized East Africa. But these defensive strikes are only part of the picture. As Langley made clear, this is a battle of influence and China is right in the middle of it.

While terror groups destabilize the region, Beijing is using the chaos as an opportunity. Langley revealed that more African military personnel are being trained in China, mimicking the U.S.'s International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.

“They’re trying to replicate what we do best,” said Langley. “They’ve told these countries they’re increasing their security training.”

This isn't just about military training it's about winning alliances, controlling ports, and dominating the African continent strategically and economically. China has already poured over $155 billion into African infrastructure since 2000. Now, they’re setting their sights on military influence, exploiting weak governments and unstable regions to expand their global reach.

And Russia isn’t far behind, offering private military support and sowing further discord, often backing regimes that are openly hostile to the West.

This growing axis of evil terror groups, authoritarian regimes, and global adversaries like China and Russia is becoming a security nightmare for the United States. Yet under President Biden, America has retreated from strategic regions, scaled back influence, and watched from the sidelines as adversaries filled the void.

The Trump administration understands that global instability doesn’t stay overseas. It finds its way to our borders, our cities, and our homes.

If we don’t reassert American strength now through robust military presence, strong alliances, and economic countermeasures we will pay the price later.

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