In 2015, terrorism continued to bedevil significant portions of the African continent.
In East Africa, the Somalia-based terrorist group al-Shabaab continued launching attacks and suicide bombings in Somalia, frequently targeting Mogadishu International Airport, Somali government facilities and hotels popular with government officials and business people. The terror group also set its sights on Kenya.
In the Lake Chad Basin region, Boko Haram continues its attacks in northeastern Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
In West Africa and the Sahel, terrorist groups have conducted attacks against hotels and a resort frequented by westerners.
In 2015, one of the key developments in the global fight against terrorism has been the increased level of international cooperation and coordination in addressing cross-border and regional terrorist activity.So for example, the Lake Chad Basin countries formed the Multinational Joint Task Force to confront Boko Haram, while the Horn of Africa nations are coordinating their efforts against al-Shabaab in Somalia.
The United States is deeply involved in assisting its partners in their efforts to degrade and dismantle these terrorist threat.
The U.S, in partnership with Somali forces, supports African Union forces in maintaining pressure on al-Shabaab and weakening the group’s territorial control in parts of Somalia.
In North Africa, the United States helps support the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership. Through this program, we have been working with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunis to build the capacity and cooperation of military, law enforcement, and civilian actors across North and West Africa to counter terrorism.
The Partnership For Regional East Africa Counterterrorism is a U.S.-funded and implemented counterterrorism partnership that includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania as well as Uganda, Burundi, Comoros, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Sudan, and Sudan.
“We are expanding engagement with African governmental and non-governmental partners to better understand the drivers of violent extremism and design effective responses,” said Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“The United States is committed to partnering with the people and governments of Africa to promote democracy, peace and prosperity.”
