The United States has raised concerns over the growing activities of extremist groups in Africa, identifying Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin as major focal points in its 2026 counterterrorism strategy.

In the newly released strategy document, the US government warned that terrorist organisations linked to the Islamic State have expanded operations across parts of Africa following the collapse of ISIS strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

According to the report, regions such as West Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, Mozambique, Sudan, and Somalia are witnessing renewed terrorist activities as jihadist groups exploit weak governance and ungoverned territories.

The document stated that remnants of the Islamic State and affiliated extremist factions were forced out of the Middle East and later regrouped in Africa and parts of Central Asia.

“President Trump unleashed the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen, and within a matter of weeks, a Jihadi insurgency which controlled vast territories across Iraq and Syria was gone,” the report stated.

It added that surviving members of the terror network relocated to regions with weak security systems where they could rebuild operations.

The strategy specifically highlighted West Africa and the Lake Chad Basin as areas where ISIS-linked elements have regained influence, while also noting the continued insurgency activities of Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

According to the US, a major goal of its African counterterrorism policy is to prevent extremist groups from establishing bases capable of threatening American interests globally.

The document said Washington would continue working closely with governments battling groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda by providing intelligence support and helping to strengthen local counterterrorism forces.

The US also stated that protecting Christians targeted by terrorist organisations would remain one of its strategic priorities.

While reaffirming support for African governments, the strategy indicated that the US intends to maintain a lighter military presence on the continent and expects regional allies to take greater responsibility through coordinated operations and intelligence sharing.

The document criticised the foreign policy approach of former US President Joe Biden, claiming previous policies weakened counterterrorism efforts and created opportunities for extremist groups to regroup in Africa.

Referencing Nigeria, the report praised actions allegedly taken by President Donald Trump in response to attacks on Christians in the country.

“With the decisive action President Trump recently took in Nigeria, he made it clear that the slaughter of Christians will not go unchecked,” the strategy document stated.

The report also quoted Trump as saying on Christmas Day in 2025 that terrorists responsible for attacks on Christians had been warned there would be consequences if the killings continued.

Despite the security concerns, the US maintained that African countries still possess enormous economic and developmental potential if governments are able to strengthen territorial control and prevent extremist groups from gaining safe havens.