The Salafist Group for Preaching (or Call) and Combat (GSPC), more recently titled al Qaeda in the Maghreb, has maintained a small but significant level of terrorist unrest in the countries of the Sahel for a number of years. Although GSPC activities have been rather small scale, they have added to the host of other security failures plaguing the region. The United States has begun devoting more attention to the regional security gaps and has started to implement an overall strategy in response. The more broadly-based approaches to dealing with security, economic, and political problems show promise, but only if the United States and regional countries maintain their focus on the long term. The countries of the Sahel region of Africa continue to face significant security problems, with terrorist groups adding to their insecurity. In response to the perceived increased threat, the U.S. Government has begun providing more security assistance to the region. 51 notes