Back to the Future: The Evolution of US Counterterrorism Policy in Africa

The onset of America’s war on terror in September 2001 returned Africa once again to the spotlight, for the first time since the end of the Cold War. In more than a decade since, Africa and its people have been witness to an escalating clash between a US-led coalition and violent Islamic extremists that has turned the continent into yet another battlefield in the global war on terror. But Washington’s initial decision to implement an innovative government counterterrorism strategy has foundered on poor implementation and lack of resources. This in turn has pushed the United States to adopt a more militarised strategy in recent years. While this approach has produced some positive short-term results, Washington’s counterterrorism effort is at a crossroads. Will the US opt for a continuation of the war of attrition that is now waging or will it return to the use of soft power to address the underlying symptoms fuelling terrorism in Africa?