The United States has identified Nigeria as a crucial ally in efforts to combat the rising influence of ISIS and Al-Qaeda-linked groups operating across West Africa and the Sahel region.
The Commander of the United States Africa Command General Dagvin Anderson, disclosed this on Tuesday during a virtual media briefing, amid growing concerns over intensified extremist attacks threatening regional stability.
General Anderson warned that violent extremist organisations are expanding their reach across the Sahel, placing significant pressure on several countries and posing risks to national capitals.
“We are witnessing an increasing threat from Daesh and Al-Qaeda affiliates across the Sahel,” Anderson said.
“Groups such as JNIM, which is aligned with Al-Qaeda, are intensifying their activities and pushing southward, creating serious security concerns for countries in the region.”
He stressed that the evolving threat highlights the need for sustained regional and international collaboration to counter terrorism.
According to the AFRICOM commander, Nigeria stands out as a dependable and capable partner in West Africa, noting that cooperation between both countries has enhanced counter-terrorism efforts.
“Our partnership with Nigeria is a strong example of working with a willing and capable partner,” Anderson said.
“Nigeria has requested specific capabilities that the United States can provide, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as intelligence fusion. When these are combined with Nigeria’s ongoing efforts, the impact is significantly more effective.”
He explained that discussions during the Aqaba Process meeting held in Rome late last year helped strengthen collaboration.
The meeting, hosted by the Prime Minister of Italy and the King of Jordan, focused on addressing terrorist threats in West Africa and was attended by President Bola Tinubu.
“At that meeting, we had the opportunity to engage directly with President Tinubu,” Anderson said.
“We agreed on the importance of working together to address the growing terrorist threat, and that engagement has led to increased cooperation between our two countries.”
He added that the collaboration has resulted in the deployment of a small U.S. team to support Nigerian forces with specialised capabilities, building on counter-terrorism efforts Nigeria has sustained for several years.
AFRICOM’s Senior Enlisted Leader, Sergeant Major Garric Banfield, also underscored the importance of partnering with African nations to address shared security challenges.
“Instability creates an environment where violent extremist organisations can thrive,” Banfield said. “A secure environment encourages stability, which in turn attracts investment and economic growth that benefit both African nations and the United States.”
Banfield noted that enhanced intelligence and surveillance capabilities are essential not only for counter-terrorism but also for tackling transnational crimes such as piracy, illegal fishing and smuggling.
AFRICOM confirmed that ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and Nigeria includes intelligence sharing, support for Nigerian security forces and targeted operations against terrorist groups.
General Anderson also referenced recent U.S. military actions against Islamic State elements in north-western Nigeria, describing them as part of a coordinated effort with Nigerian authorities.
“These operations have helped degrade terrorist networks and limit their ability to threaten regional stability,” he said.
The U.S. Africa Command further announced that multinational military exercises, including the African Lion exercise scheduled for May in Morocco, are aimed at strengthening regional capacity to counter terrorism and other cross-border threats.
