The STG peace initiative launched by the African Union (AU) in 2000 is targeted at eliminating all forms of armed violence in Africa by the year 2030. Despite the successes recorded within this initiative, the AU still faces challenges that threaten to truncate the achievement of its objectives. One of these threats is violent extremism and terrorism. The proliferation of transborder terror organizations and the multifaceted dimensions of the challenges these pose cannot be underestimated. African governments continue to seek strategies to ensure a more peaceful and secure Africa, and the goal of having a conflict-free continent remains central to these strategies. However, it is undeniable that terrorism and violent extremism, which remain major problems within the continent, affect development directly and destructively. Using the authors’ research and extant literature, this chapter contributes to this discourse by examining and presenting a descriptive analysis of the nature and dynamics of violent extremism and terrorism in Africa within the context of armed conflicts across the region to highlight the specific issues that challenge the STG peace initiative. It argues that as long as the root causes of violent extremism and terrorism in Africa are not addressed, sustainable development goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved holistically, and this poses a significant threat to the STG peace initiative and Africa’s long-term development.