“The epicentre of global terrorism is in Africa. ISIS leadership right now is African, whether it’s in Somalia, Nigeria, Mali or Niger,” Anderson said. He added that, “Al-Qaeda’s economic engine is also in Africa right now, especially in the Sahel, where they generate millions of dollars through extortion, kidnappings for ransom and other illicit activities.”

“They are learning organisations. They have evolved and adapted over time, and they’ve learned how to operate quietly because they understand what happens when they become too visible. Both ISIS and Al-Qaeda have migrated toward Africa,” he added.

The AFRICOM commander pointed to countries including Somalia, Nigeria, Mali and Niger as areas where extremist organisations have strengthened their presence and operational capacity.

According to him, Al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sahel have “more than tripled in size” over the last five years, with extremist groups increasingly generating revenue through extortion, kidnappings for ransom and illicit activities.

He also warned that some groups are evolving into quasi-state actors capable of controlling territory, disrupting national economies and threatening capital cities.

Referring to recent attacks in Mali claimed by Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), Anderson expressed concern over public threats against the capital, Bamako.

“JNIM recently made a public statement saying they were going to attack and seize Bamako and warned civilians not to resist. That should give people some chills because that’s exactly the kind of messaging ISIS used before it entered Mosul,” he said.

“If a terrorist organisation can threaten a national capital, it changes the game. It gives them legitimacy, access to resources and makes them more attractive to extremists from around the world,” he added.

Anderson argued that the withdrawal of Western military forces from parts of West Africa has created what he described as an “intelligence black hole,” limiting the ability of the United States and its allies to fully monitor developments in the region.

Despite his warnings, he stressed that the people of Africa should not be blamed for the rise of extremist groups.

“This is not to disparage Africa because the people of Africa, for the most part, do not want these terrorists there. West Africans have a long history of moderate and open Islam and produced some of the greatest Islamic scholars in history,” he said.

He linked the growth of extremist recruitment to poverty, unemployment and governance challenges, arguing that many recruits initially join militant groups for economic survival rather than ideology.

He emphasised that the United States should avoid direct long-term military intervention, instead focusing on intelligence sharing, training and support for African partners.

“We need to pay attention to this threat and avoid the mistake of simply walking away or ignoring it. I believe the threat is real, and I have real concern about where this could go,” General Dagvin R. M. Anderson cautioned.

Watch the review of his comments at The Sedona Forum in the attached video.