The war against al Qaeda and the Islamic State in Africa is a frequently-overlooked part of America’s counterterrorism effort.

Although the deaths of four Americans in Niger on October 4 brought America’s presence in Africa to the forefront of the national consciousness, the response to the tragic experience does not address the fundamental shortcomings of U.S. engagement in the Sahel region. Rather than rely on counterterrorism operations, policymakers must formulate a regional approach to contend with the political and economic roots of the conflict.