By Jana al-Masry | 2024-07-17

Extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) have exploited insecurity and porous borders on the African continent to reorganize and form affiliates in a number of countries, military experts said.

At the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East, Egypt has worked hard to contain the threat from al-Qaeda and ISIS, particularly in the Sinai peninsula, military expert Wael Abdul Muttalib told Al-Fassel.

In recent years, he said, it has boosted security on its western borders to stop extremist infiltration and prevent the influx of weapons, in a move that yielded "outstanding results that were evident on the ground."

Terror groups have spread across the continent, aided by lax border control and the expansive desert terrain, "which is difficult to monitor by traditional means," Abdul Muttalib said.

As an additional challenge, he said, "residential areas close to the border are very impoverished, which makes it easy for these groups to recruit smugglers or even to buy silence regarding any activity."

Per the 2023 Global Terrorism Index, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 48% of global terrorism deaths, while the Sahel is home to the world's fastest growing and deadliest terrorist groups.

Longstanding counterterrorism funding from the United States -- more than $50 billion since 1979 -- provides Egypt with key equipment and training to battle terrorism in all parts of the country.

Fertile ground for extremists

Many factors enabled the deterioration of the security situation in Africa and the rise of extremist groups, including recent coups in a number of countries, Egyptian military analyst Abdul Karim Ahmed told Al-Fassel.

Meanwhile, he said, Russian and Chinese interventions in a number of countries led to "an imbalance of power, especially after the formation of the Wagner Group's Africa Corps, which poses a serious threat."

The border region shared by Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso is a particular area of concern as a launchpad for al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates, of which there are dozens, Ahmed said.

The "Islamic State in the Greater Sahara" (ISGS) has a presence in the region, as does Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which is loyal to al-Qaeda, he said.

ISIS also is expanding in West Africa, especially Nigeria, he said, where its spread is checked by Boko Haram, an al-Qaeda-inspired extremist group, "and the same applies to the Lake Chad Basin."

Al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab has a widespread presence in Somalia, while ISIS and al-Qaeda have a presence in Niger, alongside other extremist groups.

"This is of course in addition to the widespread presence of al-Qaeda and ISIS militants in southern and southwestern Libya," he said.

"This worries Egyptian authorities and has prompted them to markedly increase the security of the borders with Libya," he added.