Security threats are increasingly becoming transnational in nature and involve state and non-state actors. Non-state actors such as terrorist organizations have adopted network structures that allow for enhanced global reach and cooperation not only across national boundaries but regional ones as well. Terrorism manifests in different ways and is often understood ambiguously due to its contextual nature in terms of its main motivations. Although the majority of terrorist groups today have the underlying denominator of Islamic fundamentalism, different groups in different states have unique driving forces which differ with regards to the social, economic, and political factors. The type of change that terrorist groups seek is therefore different depending on the target. In Kenya, the immediate motivation of the al-Shabaab terrorist group is to advocate for the withdrawal of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) from Somalia. In Somalia, the same group aims at creating an Islamic state that wields political authority over its territory and those perceived to historically be part of Somalia. This has contributed in making the definition of terrorism an enormous task. Terrorist groups form networks with like-minded groups in the international setting but the context in which each group operates in unique in certain ways. For instance, what are the political catalysts that led to the emergence of a pariah social group within the population? Also, what drives social groups to adopt terrorist tactics to achieve their goals? Answers to these questions not only lie in heightened security measures but also policies that aim for increased socio-political, and economic well-being of citizens. This can be strengthened through international cooperation between states. In keeping with the changing times fueled by the exponential growth in technologyTechnology and related advancements, increased migration resulting from volatile social turbulences across the globe, international security concerns have evolved in tandem, from traditional to non-traditional (contemporary). Security threats facing states and the international setting have increasingly become transnational in nature, with non-state actors taking more prominence than ever before. In an international setting that is characterized by non-traditional security threats, actors at the global level have increased exponentially to include non-state actors such as terrorist and secessionist groups. Due to the fact that terrorist groups operate across borders, international efforts need to be holistic in nature and involve all states regardless of their size and power. Relations between India and African states can therefore be elevated through forging closer ties on both military and non-military security. India has established itself as a key player in the medical sector, creating the emergence of ‘medical tourismMedical tourism’. African countries have also created a balance between the East and West, therefore emerging as the epicenter of great power politics. This provides room for different states to use diverse means in the pursuit of similar interests. The presence of a large number of Indian diasporaDiaspora in many African states and the long history that is characterized by a common colonial experience lay the foundation for greater engagement between India and Africa. As an emerging power in international relations, India has the potential to engage with African states through strengthening the role of its diasporaDiaspora as a foreign policy tool.