Transnational Threats

Assessing the threat, scope, and destabilizing power of transnational criminal and terrorist groups.

Many of Africa’s emerging security threats are transnational in scope, testing the capacity of countries to coordinate capable, effective responses. Terrorism, piracy, narcotics trafficking, people smuggling, oil theft, and poaching involve complex, often overlapping networks of criminals, armed groups, and extremists. CSIS research seeks to understand how these networks operate and evolve, assess the threat they pose to African and U.S. security interests, and consider strategies to disrupt and dismantle their operations.