Washington's expansion of the War on Terror to the African continent substantiated claims that the U.S. fabricated terrorism in order to justify their military campaign. This book chronicles the effect of this warmongering and the creation of a self-fulfilling prophecy of terror and instability in the Sahara.

Beginning in 2004, with what local people called the US 'invasion' of the Sahel, the book shows how repressive, authoritarian regimes - cashing in on US terrorism 'rents' - provoked Tuareg rebellions in both Niger and Mali, caused a new narco-trafficking branch of Al-Qaeda and created instability in a region the size of western Europe. Exposing the suspected complicity of the World Bank, the tumult caused by US's new new combatant African command (AFRICOM), and the chilling tactics used to perpetuate the myth that Africa is a hotbed of Islamic terrorism, Jeremy Keenan proves his resolve to 'defeat the lie'.

'Compelling and persuasive. The writing is excellent and Keenan knows the region and its people extremely well' -- Isaac Kfir, The Journal for Islamic Studies

Jeremy Keenan is a Professorial Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies. He has written many books including The Dark Sahara (Pluto, 2009) and The Dying Sahara (Pluto, 2013). He is a consultant to numerous international organisations on the Sahara and the Sahel, including the United Nations, the European Commission and many others.