Terror’s New Epicenter: The Sahel on the Brink
In the past year, jihadist violence in Africa’s Sahel region exploded by more than 70 percent, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced. The continent’s once-overlooked hinterlands have become the epicenter of global terror—and America is running out of time to respond.
The Sahel spans from Senegal to Sudan, a vast expanse of ungoverned territory. Islamist militias exploit the vacuum, carving out “caliphates” where they impose brutality without consequence. Boko Haram, al-Qaeda’s North African arm and ISIS franchises now bleed across borders with impunity.
This is not a distant problem. Every attack in the Sahel reverberates through Europe and the West. Refugee flows swell. Radical fighters slip through porous borders. Our national security depends on halting this juggernaut before it reaches our shores.
For too long, Democratic administrations treated the Sahel as a charity case—handing out aid while ignoring the guns and madrassas fueling radicalization. That approach failed. Terrorists grew stronger. Sovereign governments grew weaker. Chaos reigned.
We need a decisive shift. First, the U.S. must bolster regional militaries with intelligence-sharing, training and precision strike capabilities. No more one-off grants or vague “capacity building.” We demand clear objectives and measurable results.
Second, America must partner with France, Britain and African allies under a coalition mandate. NATO-style unity will isolate jihadists and cut off their supply lines. Unilateral action breeds resentment; strategic alliances deliver lasting impact.
Third, we must cripple terror finance. Sanction corrupt power brokers, freeze illicit gold and drug networks, and dismantle money-laundering hubs in the Gulf. Economic warfare is as lethal as any drone strike.
Fourth, Washington needs an unflinching public narrative: We reject moral relativism. We call evil by its name. The fight against jihadism is a fight for civilization itself—no apologies, no equivocation.
The stakes could not be higher. Failure in the Sahel invites attacks on Europe, emboldens terror cells in America, and undermines every gain won since 9/11. Republicans will lead with clarity, force and resolve.
Time is short. Terrorists count on our indecision. It’s time to meet the threat head-on, with strength and certainty. The Sahel waits. America must act.
