Edmund Fitton-Brown
Thursday’s strikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria signal an intensifying American fight against jihadist expansion across Africa.
ISIS maintains a presence across the African continent, but its most dangerous concentrations lie in the west — particularly in northeastern Nigeria and the tri-border area connecting Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
To the east, ISIS fighters actively terrorize populations in Somalia, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where US special forces have previously conducted counterterrorism operations.
Local cooperation is paramount for success in such operations, and it’s notable that yesterday’s strikes were conducted in consultation with Nigerian authorities in Abuja.
The Nigerian government has not always been as effective as it should be in protecting Nigerian Christians and in fighting the twin jihadi menaces of Boko Haram and ISIS.
Any plan for counterterrorism in Africa must also consider Al Qaeda, which has multiple franchises in the continent and is arguably just as dangerous as ISIS.
No comments:
Post a Comment