France on Thursday, November 13, 2025, marked a decade since the coordinated Islamic State (IS) attacks that devastated Paris, with solemn ceremonies honouring the 130 victims of the nation's deadliest peacetime assault. The commemorations, however, were underscored by a stark reminder of the persistent jihadist threat following the recent arrest of a woman suspected of plotting a new violent act.

The series of attacks on the evening of Friday, November 13, 2015, targeted the Bataclan concert hall, the Stade de France national stadium, and several restaurants and bars in the French capital. Ninety people were killed at the Bataclan alone during a performance by the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal. The violence, which also injured over 400 people, prompted a national state of emergency and intensified counter-terrorism operations across Europe.

President Emmanuel Macron led the day of remembrance, visiting each of the six attack sites to lay wreaths and observe moments of silence with victims' families and survivors. The day culminated in the evening with the inauguration of the 'Jardin du 13 Novembre 2015', a memorial garden opposite Paris City Hall, conceived in collaboration with victims' associations as a space for reflection.

A Threat That Has Not Gone Away

The anniversary was preceded by the arrest of a 27-year-old French woman, identified as Maëva B., on suspicion of planning an attack. Investigators uncovered the alleged plot after tracing a USB drive with jihadist propaganda found in the cell of Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of the 2015 attack cell. Abdeslam, 36, is serving a full-life sentence after his conviction in June 2022 for murder and terrorism. Maëva B., who had entered a relationship with Abdeslam, was placed under judicial investigation along with two alleged associates.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the persistent danger, stating that the terrorist threat in France remains "very high." He revealed that six attacks have been thwarted in 2025 alone. President Macron echoed these concerns at the memorial inauguration, stating, "Everything will be done to prevent any new attack and to ruthlessly punish those who would dare to attempt it." Authorities note an evolution in the threat, with an increasing focus on young, homegrown extremists radicalizing online in isolation.

Global Scourge, Local Relevance

The events in Paris serve as a crucial reminder of the transnational nature of jihadist terrorism, a threat that continues to have significant implications for Kenya and the wider East African region. For decades, East Africa has been a theatre for terrorist activities, from the 1998 US embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam to the ongoing insurgency by Al-Shabaab in Somalia and its affiliates in Kenya.

According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) released by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the Sahel region of Africa is now the epicentre of terrorism, accounting for over half of all global terrorism deaths. While Kenya has seen a decrease in terrorism-related deaths, the threat from groups like Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State persists. A joint operation by Interpol and Afripol in late 2024 resulted in the arrest of 37 suspected terrorists across eight East African countries, including 17 in Kenya, some of whom were alleged ISIS members. This highlights the continued presence and recruitment efforts of these global networks in the region.

Kenyan security agencies remain on high alert, collaborating with international partners to disrupt terror plots and counter violent extremism. The enduring threat in Europe, as evidenced by the recent arrests in France, reinforces the understanding that terrorism is a shared global challenge. It underscores the importance of sustained international cooperation, intelligence sharing, and addressing the root causes of radicalization, both at home and abroad, to prevent future tragedies. The commemoration in Paris is not just a reflection on a past horror, but a call for continued vigilance against an enemy that has proven its global reach and deadly resilience.