President Barack Obama said, yesterday, that the United States stands with Africa in the war against terrorism and to end conflict, warning that the continent’s progress will "depend on security and peace”.

"As Africa stands against terror and conflict, I want you to know the United States stands with you,” Obama said in a speech to the African Union, highlighting threats ranging from Somalia’s Shebab, Boko Haram in Nigeria, insurgents in Mali and Tunisia, and the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in Central Africa.

Obama said the United States was backing AU military efforts and saluting the "brave African peacekeepers” battling militants.

"From Somalia and Nigeria, to Mali and Tunisia, terrorists continue to target innocent civilians,” he said at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.

"Many of these groups claim the banner of religion, but hundreds of millions of African Muslims know that Islam means peace. We must call groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIL (Islamic State), Al-Shebab and Boko Haram, we must call them what they are -— murderers.”

But he also said that progress was being made.

"Because of the AU force in Somalia, Al-Shebab controls less territory, and the Somali government is growing stronger. In central Africa, the AU-led mission continues to degrade the Lord’s Resistance Army,” he said.

"In the Lake Chad basin, forces from several nations – with the backing of the AU – are fighting to end Boko Haram’s senseless brutality.”