America’s Top General In Africa Admits Jihadi Terror Squads Have Multiplied Like Rabid Rodents

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The United States’ top military leader overseeing Africa revealed exclusively recently in a Fox News Digital interview that the region faces unprecedented terrorist activity, necessitating significant adjustments to America’s national security posture. In a candid conversation hours before attending the high-level African Chiefs of Defence Conference in Gaborone, Botswana, General Michael E. Langley provided rare insights into emerging dangers emanating from various actors – notably China, Russia, and Iran – while outlining Washington’s evolving response strategies amid shifting regional dynamics.

General Langley sounded alarm bells regarding the meteoric rise of Islamist extremists operating within Africa itself. “We’ve been monitoring and identifying indications and warnings for a number of years. Just for statistics, back in 2008, Islamic jihadists on the global scene, only 4% was on the African continent. Now that number is up to 40%. So, in executing AFRICOM’s mission of being able to provide indications and warnings, monitor and respond, is all for protection of the homeland.”

Furthermore, he underscored how critical vigilance remains in protecting American interests globally, given heightened instability throughout the vast expanse of sub-Saharan Africa. As Commander-in-Chief of Africom, General Langley reiterated that countering terrorism forms one key pillar supporting broader efforts aimed at crisis prevention and conflict resolution.

Turning focus onto Beijing’s growing footprint inside Africa via its ambitious infrastructure projects under the banner of the Belt and Road Initiative, Langley expressed wariness around potential long-term implications stemming from China’s expanding presence along coastal regions like Djibouti. While acknowledging legitimate anti-piracy concerns driving current deployments, questions persist surrounding the ultimate goals behind establishing permanent installations capable of projecting hard-power capabilities deep inland.

Russia, too, received stern scrutiny due to Moscow’s increasingly brazen attempts to infiltrate fragile states spanning North-Central-Southern axes. According to Langley, Vladimir Putin seeks to advantageously exploit vulnerabilities exacerbated by internal strife, thereby solidifying Kremlin control networks stretching from Mali southwards past Chad right up until embattled South Sudanese borders.

Tehran’s shadow loomed large amidst discussions revolving around illicit arms proliferation alongside suspected clandestine support channels feeding proxy fighters scattered between Western Sahara and easternmost Horn nations. When probed directly concerning Iranian involvement, specifically vis-à-vis mineral-rich territories encompassing parts of Niger plus Sudan, Langley chose cautionary restraint, saying simply, “We’re closely monitoring activities by Iran.”

Meanwhile, fallout continues unfolding subsequent to April orders issued by Nigerien authorities compelling approximately one thousand American servicemen stationed locally since early 2020 to vacate premises forthwith. This dramatic turnabout follows hotly contested diplomatic wrangling pitting local strongman Mohamed Bazum against successive rounds of tense talks mediated primarily by France and Germany seeking rapprochement terms palatable enough to salvage fraying relations.

Regarding ongoing redeployment plans set to conclude come September 15th, Langley assured swift compliance, assuring smooth handovers, ensuring no disruptions occur affecting essential CT ops currently underway targeting notorious outfits ranging from al-Qaeda affiliates embedded among Tuareg rebels near Timbuktu all the way eastward beyond Lake Victoria.

Finally, hinting at paradigm shifts guiding future engagement patterns across western reaches of the Dark Continent, Langley intimated fresh emphasis placed squarely on bolstering localized partnerships geared more heavily towards holistic nation-building initiatives rather than solely relying on direct combat-oriented interventions characteristic of prior decades.

By doing away with outdated approaches favoring short-lived tactical gains above durable peace dividends yielded through sustained investment in host-nation capacities, Washington appears poised (finally!) to grasp nettlesome complexities inherent to modern-day Sub-Sahara politics.