Jihadist extremism in Africa is on the rise, with Islamic State and al-Qaeda increasingly using advanced technologies, including drones and Starlink, to recruit fighters, plan attacks, and establish control over territories
Islamic State and al-Qaeda are spreading rapidly throughout Africa, reinforcing the continent as the epicenter of jihadist violence in the world. They are increasingly using advanced technologies, including Starlink internet and drone technology, to recruit militants, plan attacks, and establish authority over territories.
According to the US Defense Department’s Africa Center for Strategic Studies, their affiliates have killed an unprecedented 22,300 people in Africa in the last year alone. They raise hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes, extortion, and ransom payments, and estimates from the UN cited by Bloomberg suggest they may have as many as 50,000 fighters operating in Nigeria, Somalia, and the Sahel.
Jihadist Extremism in Africa: Strengthening Forces and Expanding Territories
IS and AQ African affiliates are, for the most part, stronger than they have ever been, “Caleb Weiss, editor of the Washington-based Long War Journal, said. “They are adding manpower, expanding geographically, and increasing their levels of violence while building financial and governance systems in areas they control.
The recent attacks highlight the expanding reach of these groups. Extremists paralyzed a key trade route in Mali, killed at least 89 people on one day in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and struck a seaport town in Mozambique near where TotalEnergies is contemplating building a $20 billion natural gas initiative. The attacks point to how jihadist activity on the continent is outpacing attempts to contain it.
Clionadh Raleigh, head of ACLED, which tracks political violence, indicated that more than two-thirds of the Islamic State’s activity globally occurred in Africa in the first half of 2025. “That’s a historic pace of activity on the continent,” she explained.
Jihadist Extremism in Africa: Drones and Modern Tactics
The use of drones is a huge upgrade in technology. Nigeria’s Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which split from Boko Haram around ten years ago, first used a grenade-laden drone against a military target in late 2024. The group conducted three attacks involving drones in Borno state, suggesting a growing tactical sophistication.
In Mali, ISWAP and al-Qaeda’s Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, the most significant jihadist group in the country with around 15,000 fighters, have used Starlink to advance their communication and coordination. They are also active on social media channels, including TikTok, positioning themselves as purveyors of security and justice, viable alternatives to weak state authorities.https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/africa-terrorists-isis-starlink-c7kd5v8cb
Financially, the groups are cutthroat. Al-Shabaab in Somalia earns more than $200 million annually, while ISWAP received close to $191 million from taxation and ransom, according to ACLED. These funds support recruitment, weapons, and operations, which make them strong despite global counter-terrorism efforts.
Setbacks and Counter-Terrorism Efforts
Even with this increase, the extremists are struggling. The Islamic State’s affiliate in Mozambique has shrunk from roughly 2,000 fighters four years ago to around 300-400 now, half of whom are children. In Somalia, local forces and US airstrikes killed 200 fighters in five months and detained more than 150. However, experts warn that the groups can pose a danger just as quickly without sustained pressure.
The emergence of jihadist movements can be traced to a range of contributing factors. Weak state governments, unstable economies, and sharp declines in foreign aid have made it extremely difficult for successful counter-terrorism to occur. Factors associated with poverty and hopelessness lure young rural males to extremist groups that offer guns and motorbikes in exchange for service. Additionally, military coups in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso replaced beleaguered civilian governments with Russian paramilitary support instead of their usual Western partners, leading to an increase in the rise.
Expanding Toward Coastal Nations
Not only have the insurgents established a foothold in the Sahel, but they are also moving south to attack coastal nations like Senegal, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Benin and Togo are also dealing with militants who have been attacking military positions and civilian infrastructure, like an oil pipeline in Benin. West African finance ministers and senior military leaders decided to have conversations about establishing a joint force, but given budget limitations, it is likely the brigade will consist of 1,650 instead of their desired 5,000 troops.
“Tens of thousands of the battle-hardened fighters now gathering in Africa would put them on par with the Islamic State at its apex in Iraq and Syria,” said Hussein Solomon, a terrorism expert and professor at the University of the Free State in South Africa. “They are crossing all borders as state institutions crumbled and local communities became compromised due to insecurities.”
As jihadist organizations continue to experiment with modern technologies, exploit gaps in governance, and reach into previously pacified areas, Africa confronts an unprecedented challenge in reversing the trend in terrorism. The convergence of drones, social media, and access to the internet is changing the operational landscape for extremists and requires coordinated regional and global responses.
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