The Pentagon has expressed its fear of the growing presence of Islamic extremists in Africa as a result of the almost complete eradication of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Typically, Islamic extremism creeps up in impoverished, politically disillusioned populations with masses of young, unemployed Muslims, and these conditions can be seen across the African continent.
Intelligence reports and strategic studies have shown that the Islamic State is likely to establish a caliphate in Africa. The same has triggered the need for an increased military presence in Africa to decapitate any and all sprouting terrorists echoed by the increased air strikes against the Al Shabaab in Somalia.
The Trump administration has taken on offensive strikes on al Shabaab targets which shifts away from the earlier strikes that were only to protect their African allies and interests. In coming months, the US hopes to increase the offensive attacks on different parts of Africa against Islamist groups to ensure that fleeing terrorists from the Middle East do not create enclaves in Africa.
