The U.S. Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, or TSCTP, was created in 2005 to help countries in West and North Africa counter domestic terrorist threats, but the humanitarian toll in Nigeria and Mali indicates this partnership has been far from successful.
Since 9/11, the United States has been waging a global war on terror that includes supporting foreign countries and allies in combating terrorist threats. While most people associate this trend with the Middle East, 9/11 also significantly increased U.S. security assistance to Africa, particularly to nations in the Sahel with high percentages of Muslim populations.
The Department of State characterizes counterterrorism as working with “foreign government partners to build the capabilities necessary to prevent, degrade, detect, and respond to terrorist threats.” This is done through various means, including strengthening law enforcement and judicial capabilities, expanding border security, and countering violent extremism.