\n\n
The United States has warned that the Islamic State group, commonly known as ISIS, is increasingly shifting its operations and influence toward West Africa and the wider Sahel region following the collapse of many of its former strongholds in Iraq and Syria. The warning was contained in Washington’s newly released 2026 counterterrorism strategy, which identified Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin as major fronts in the global fight against terrorism. 
According to the report, extremist groups linked to ISIS have taken advantage of weak governance, porous borders, political instability, and ungoverned territories across parts of West Africa, the Sahel, Mozambique, Somalia, and Sudan to regroup and expand. The US said remnants of ISIS fighters and affiliated networks are now exploiting these fragile regions to rebuild operational capacity after losing territory in the Middle East. 
American officials specifically expressed concern over rising terrorist activities in countries such as Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and areas around the Lake Chad Basin, where groups affiliated with ISIS and Al-Qaeda continue launching attacks against civilians and security forces. The strategy noted that Africa has increasingly become a major centre of extremist violence, with terrorist organisations attempting to establish new safe havens and recruitment bases across the continent. 
The US government also stressed that instability in the Sahel could pose long-term threats to global security if left unchecked. Washington pledged continued cooperation with African governments through intelligence sharing, military partnerships, training, and counterterrorism support aimed at preventing extremist groups from gaining stronger footholds in the region. 
