… Warns groups exploiting instability in Sahel, Africa, othersBy Nkiruka Nnorom
The United States has said that countering ISIL, al-Qa’ida and their affiliates remained a key priority of its counterterrorism efforts, as the groups continue to exploit instability across Africa and Asia.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on Wednesday, U.S Deputy Representative to the UN, Ambassador Tammy Bruce, said the groups were expanding operations in new theatres.
“Since the Council’s last briefing on this issue in February, the United States released its new national Counterterrorism Strategy on May 6, identifying three priority threats: narco-terrorists and transnational gangs, legacy Islamist terrorists, and violent left-wing extremists.
“Countering ISIL, al-Qa’ida, and their affiliates remains a key priority. These groups continue to exploit instability as evidenced by al-Qa’ida’s gains in the Sahel, ISIL’s growing focus on Africa, and the persistent threat from ISIL-K in Afghanistan,” she said in her remarks shared with the press.
