Africa is experiencing a new form of scramble, not by colonial powers but by terrorist organizations, criminal syndicates, and armed groups exploiting the continent's vulnerabilities. According to US Africa Command, drug trafficking from the Americas through Africa to Europe has increased nearly sixfold since 2024. Terrorism and organized crime are converging, with a $50 million hostage ransom reportedly financing an al Qaeda-linked offensive in the Sahel. Groups like JNIM, with an estimated 7,000-8,000 fighters, are expanding their operations across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and toward Benin and Togo.
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