Africa now world’s most active terrorism theatre — US panel

The Africa region has emerged as the world's most active terrorism theater, according to a new report by the US House Committee on Homeland Security. More than two-thirds of ISIS's global activity is now concentrated on the continent. Seven out of the ten countries with the highest number of terrorism-related deaths are located in Africa.

Despite this, the report notes that US and partner resources in Africa remain limited, and intelligence coverage is uneven. The committee emphasizes that the changing nature of terrorism, including the rise of lone actors and inspired attackers, requires a shift in approach from organization-centric to behavior-centric counterterrorism.

Additionally, the report highlights the growing threat of cyber attacks from nation states, exacerbated by the use of artificial intelligence. While border security has seen improvements along the US-Mexico border, transnational criminal organizations are shifting their operations to the US-Canada border. The committee recommends more than 20 actions for Congress and the executive branch, including improved information sharing, updated threat definitions, stronger international partnerships, and increased resources for northern border security.