07/12/2013
Violent extremist groups continue to threaten peace and stability across Africa, and the United States is committed to helping nations there confront the danger.
In the Sahel, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb joined mercenaries from Libya to exploit a Tuareg rebellion, overrunning much of northern Mali. In Nigeria, Boko Haram uses poverty and popular discontent to violently challenge the government and wreak havoc on the population.
And in the Horn of Africa, a weakened but still dangerous al-Shabaab continues its terrorist attacks in Somalia and Kenya, and remains a threat to the broader region.
To confront these challenges, the United States has intensified its efforts to build the security and governance capacity of our partners, and established several initiatives to develop effective counterterrorism strategies.
In April, the first in a series of U.S.-funded conferences was held in Sana’a, Yemen, where senior officials from Somalia, Djibouti and Yemen discussed the terrorist threats facing them.
We have provided our partners with technology to help secure their borders as well as counterterrorism training and equipment for their militaries and law enforcement.
This assistance has enabled African nations to help each other, with Djiboutian forces taking part in the operations of AMISOM, the African Union military mission in Somalia, and restoring stability to the Beledweyne region.
In the end, though, confronting violent extremism in Africa demands more than a military response. Our government has engaged in numerous economic development and humanitarian aid projects, such as medical clinics, water distribution points and school construction, and encourages our partner nations to facilitate inclusive governance systems that work for the good of all segments of society.
The United States is committed to working to create freer, more prosperous and tolerant nations where radicalization is rare and hope thrives.
- Technology Report
- Health Report
- Education Report
- Economics Report
- Arts & Culture
- Ask a Teacher
- Words And Their Stories
- AS IT IS
- Everyday Grammar
- This is America
- Science in the News
- In the News
- American Stories
- Trending Today
- U.S. History
- America's National Parks
- America's Presidents
- Agriculture Report
- Explorations
- People in America
Helping Counter Violent Extremism In The Horn
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
Related Articles
- Energy Integration For The Western Hemisphere (13/7/12)
- Experts Fear Afghanistan 'Zero Option' May Have Repercussions (13/7/11)
- US Public Split Over NSA Surveillance (13/7/11)
- Drug Abuse is Major Threat to Street Kids (13/7/12)
- Fighting Fire in Nairobi with Just One Fire Engine (13/7/12)
- Promoting Nuclear Security (13/7/11)
- US Muslims Mark Start of Ramadan (13/7/10)
- IMF Lowers Its Global Economic Prospects (13/7/10)
- Ethiopia Continues Dam Construction (13/7/11)
- Top 5 Pop Songs for Week Ending July 13 (13/7/11)