{"id":64226,"date":"2020-09-09T17:16:55","date_gmt":"2020-09-09T17:16:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/09\/africa-spec-ops-commander-warns-of-al-qaidas-growing-influence\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:57:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:57:46","slug":"africa-spec-ops-commander-warns-of-al-qaidas-growing-influence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/09\/09\/africa-spec-ops-commander-warns-of-al-qaidas-growing-influence\/","title":{"rendered":"Africa spec ops commander warns of al-Qaida\u2019s growing influence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The head of U.S. special operations in Africa wants everyone to know how important an American presence<\/a> is for the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Late last year, reports surfaced that the Defense Department intended to withdraw some of its troops from the African continent<\/a>, as part of a combatant command review looking at cutting costs and increasing efficient use of forces. U.S. lawmakers and African leaders pushed back<\/a> on the idea at the time, and on Wednesday, Air Force Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson told an audience at an American Enterprise Institute virtual event why boots on the ground are so vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Violent extremist groups are the principle reason that the U.S. deploys forces to Africa, which includes affiliates of the Islamic State, but there is a more \u201cpatient\u201d and methodical group to be worried about, he added: al-Qaida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not just in and of itself, but because their growing closeness with al-Shabab, a Somalia-based Jihadi group responsible for attacks on local and U.S. forces, including one that injured a U.S. service member on Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s an issue that we need to address, both with our policymakers and our leadership, to understand why strategically it\u2019s important in Africa but also to our local communities and our populace: why does Africa matter?\u201d Anderson said. \u201cPeople understand why Europe and Asia matter, but they don\u2019t fully understand why Africa matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al-Qaida is returning to its roots, he said, as Sudan once harbored Osama bin Laden. Its stronghold is now in western Africa, where it has entrenched itself in Mali and moved south toward Burkina Faso and other Sahel countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a significant presence in Niger, where American special operations forces have been closely training with that country\u2019s equivalent security forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen our partners go to train with them, they don\u2019t have to train them twice,\u201d emphasizing the Nigeriens’ commitment to securing their country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special operations troops have long trained their counterparts in Somalia, Kenya, Niger and other countries, while civil affairs units<\/a> have supported local goodwill projects, recently in countries like Cameroon, where Boko Haram encroaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re having great effect with our small investment,\u201d Anderson said, compared to the much larger presence of French troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\t