On May 30, Marine Corps General Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), declared the Sahel the “epicenter of terrorism on the globe.”
U.S. Marine Corps General Michael Langley made the disclosure during a digital press briefing at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defense Conference, Africa’s premier forum for military leaders to address key security challenges across the continent.
He highlighted a worsening security crisis that threatens not only the affected African countries but also poses potential risks to global security, including the United States.
General Langley described the Sahel, which includes Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as a “flashpoint of prolonged conflict and growing instability.”
Terrorist organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS have expanded significantly in recent years. According to Langley, groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin have grown substantially since 2022, spreading across multiple areas within the region.
The security situation in Burkina Faso is especially alarming. General Langley noted that the Burkinabe government no longer maintains effective control over large parts of its territory, illustrating the depth of the crisis.
More troubling still, Langley warned that these terrorist groups are seeking to extend their reach into West Africa’s coastal countries, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin.
If they succeed, these groups could increase their revenues through illicit activities such as smuggling, human trafficking, and arms trading. There is also concern that these coastal areas could serve as platforms to launch attacks beyond Africa, potentially threatening U.S. homeland security.
“We are monitoring this closely because they could develop the capacity to threaten the homeland,” Langley said.
AFRICOM lists challenges in Africa
The briefing also acknowledged the challenges AFRICOM faces following the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Niger after the military coup in 2023. This withdrawal has limited the U.S. military’s ability to track terrorist activity and conduct counterterrorism operations in the region.
In response, AFRICOM is shifting its focus toward supporting African nations to assume greater responsibility for their security. This strategy involves enhanced intelligence sharing, leveraging new technologies, and strengthening regional cooperation.
General Langley’s warning reflects the deteriorating security landscape in the Sahel, where terrorist groups are exploiting weak governance, poverty, and ongoing conflicts to increase their influence.
His message serves as a call to action for African countries and their international partners to work together urgently to address these threats.
As these groups become stronger and more ambitious, the danger extends beyond Africa’s borders, reinforcing the Sahel’s emergence as a global terrorism hotspot. Coordinated efforts are crucial to safeguard peace and security not just in Africa but worldwide.
