Ex-diplomat Robert Fowler urges Canada to boost defence as Islamic terrorism surges in Africa, warning of risks reaching North America’s shores.
Veteran Diplomat Issues Stark Warning
Former Canadian ambassador to the UN, Robert Fowler, has warned that the threat of Islamic terrorism in West Africa has grown significantly since his own kidnapping by al-Qaida militants in 2008. Speaking on The West Block Sunday, Fowler said the Canadian government must do more to address what he calls an overlooked and escalating security crisis in the Sahel region.
Firsthand Knowledge of Extremist Resolve
Fowler, who spent 130 days in captivity in the Sahara Desert, stressed that militant groups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are now more organized, deadly, and determined than ever. “They are deeply, absolutely committed,” Fowler said, adding that only a major international military effort could disrupt their expansion. He cited his own experience “in the sand” to underscore the futility of attempting to negotiate or reason with extremist fighters.
Rising Violence Across the Sahel
Armed attacks in the Sahel have surged dramatically in recent months, with over 5,000 civilians killed across the region in the first five months of 2025, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Islamist militants are exploiting power vacuums left by military coups and the withdrawal of French and American forces. Experts warn these groups are pushing to access coastal states, raising alarms about future attacks beyond Africa.
Military Withdrawals Worsen the Outlook
Gen. Michael Langley of U.S. Africa Command confirmed last week that America’s 2023 withdrawal from key counterterrorism positions in Niger has severely impaired intelligence operations. He warned that groups like al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) are increasing both the frequency and complexity of their assaults. If they reach the coasts of West Africa, Langley cautioned, their access to global smuggling and trafficking routes could pose direct threats to North American security.
Canada’s Response Called Inadequate
While Canada’s newly unveiled Africa Strategy includes $30 million for peace and security projects, Fowler says the focus remains too heavily on humanitarian aid. He believes Canada’s scaled-back military presence, including the end of its Mali peacekeeping mission in 2023, sends the wrong message. “We don’t have the will to do what it would take,” he said, calling current defence spending “pitiful.”
Calls for Stronger Defence Commitment
Fowler urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to increase defence spending well beyond current commitments. While Carney has pledged to reach NATO’s target of two per cent of GDP by 2030, Canada remains well below that threshold at 1.3 per cent. Fowler also advocated for participation in U.S.-led missile defence systems, stating, “Canadians deserve that kind of defence of their territory.”
A Call to Action for Ottawa
Asked directly what advice he would give the new prime minister, Fowler replied, “Sign on.” His message: Canada must demonstrate to allies—and to its own citizens—that it takes global terror threats seriously and is ready to defend its sovereignty in an increasingly unstable world.
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