The illusion of stability: Why foreign airstrikes can’t stop the terror

March 26, 2026

TL;DR

Multiple blasts in Maiduguri, Nigeria, indicate the ongoing security crisis and the unbroken cycle of terror.
US airstrikes and 'coercive diplomacy' in Nigeria have raised questions about their effectiveness and true goals.
Nigeria has received US military training, intelligence sharing, and supplies as part of a counter-terrorism partnership.
Africa is increasingly seen as a test case for how the US asserts its power abroad and whether it advances stability or strains sovereignty.
US framing of Nigeria's crisis, focusing on the protection of Christians, has been rejected by Nigerian authorities as a mischaracterization.
Violence surged in Nigeria's northern states following US strikes, leading to doubts about their impact on militant groups and socioeconomic roots of insecurity.
US interventionism often combines appeals to human rights with diplomatic pressure or military involvement, raising sovereignty concerns.
Some Nigerian senators argue that US pressure undermines sovereignty, while others support the collaboration.
The US-Israel war with Iran is cited as another example of US interventionism, drawing international condemnation.
Rising economic powers like China and blocs like BRICS+ offer alternative multilateral cooperation models that are perceived as more respectful of sovereignty.
Africa's diversification of relationships and defense of sovereignty will influence its future and the direction of the world order.

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