US Africa Command Warns Limited Sahel Tracking Could Miss Homeland Attack Threats
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 14
US Africa Command Warns Limited Sahel Tracking Could Miss Homeland Attack Threats
1 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 14
Air Force General Dagvin Anderson told senators the Pentagon may lack enough resources in Africa to detect when Islamic State and al-Qaeda offshoots in the Sahel gain the capability to attack the US homeland.
US Africa Command can see multiple groups' "will and intent" to target the US and its interests, he said, but needs stronger indication-and-warning capacity to spot the shift from intent to operational capability.
The warning centers on the restive Sahel, where jihadist offshoots remain active and where AFRICOM says limited visibility could leave the US without timely notice of an evolving external attack threat.
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Sahel Crisis 2025: Epicenter of Global Terrorism, Geopolitical Shifts, and the Rising Threat to the US Homeland
Overview
The Sahel region has become the world’s main hotspot for terrorist violence, with over half of global terrorism deaths now occurring in countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. In 2025 alone, nearly 10,000 people died from militant attacks, and Burkina Faso ranks highest in the impact of violent extremism. This crisis is driven by escalating extremist violence and government abuses, creating a dire situation that is spreading toward coastal West Africa. The instability not only threatens local populations but also poses growing risks to global security, including potential impacts on the US homeland.