1 - Terrorist Groups in Africa: Quo Vadis?
Corresponding Author(s) : Funmi Abioye
Africa Development,
Vol. 44 No. 3 (2019): Africa Development: Special Issue on Money, Security and Democratic Governance in Africa (III)
Abstract
The frequency of acts of violence in the world has increased in recent years. These acts, perpetuated by different groups under different guises, have one thing in common: the invocation of a sense of terror and horror in people. In Africa, the situation is the same. Events in countries in and around the Horn of Africa, East Africa, Mali, Kenya and Nigeria, to name a few, speak to the rise in events of this nature that leave a trail of loss of life and property and destruction in their wake. At regional and continental levels, different initiatives, both legal and military, have been put in place all over the world to deal with acts of terrorism, and the perpetrators thereof. Despite these, terrorist attacks continue to happen unabated. It is questionable if these initiatives are achieving the desired results, and if these are indeed the correct measures to apply to tackle the malaise. Hence, this paper seeks to examine the nature and peculiarities of the terrorism occurring in Africa, focusing particularly on the groups al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa, and Boko Haram in West Africa. The effectiveness of current efforts at combatting terrorism is examined with a view to recommending a more nuanced approach to the battle against terrorism in Africa.
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- Agbiboa, D.E., 2014, ‘Terrorism without borders: Somalia’s Al-Shabaab and the global jihad network’, Journal of Terrorism Research 5 (1): 27–33.
- Alao, C.A. 2013, ‘Islamic radicalisation and violence in Nigeria’, in J. Gow, E. Olonishak and F. Dijxhorn, eds, Militancy and Violence in West Africa: Religion, Politics and Radicalisation.
- Alem, H., 2010, ‘The State in Historical and Comparative Perspective: State Weakness and the Spectre of Terrorism in Africa’, in J. Davis, ed., Terrorism in Africa: The Evolving Front in the War on Terror, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
- Ali, A.M., 2008, ‘The Al-Shabaab Al-Mujahidiin – a profile of the first Somali terrorist organisation’,https://issafrica.org/acpst/uploads/Terrorism%20Profile%20of%20the%20first%20Somali%20terrorist%20organisation.pdf, accessed October 2016.
- Azumah, J., 2015, ‘Boko Haram in retrospect’, Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 26 (1): 33–52.
- Butime, H.R., 2015, ‘Foundation of terrorism in Kenya’, Азия и Африка сегодня (10): 53–8.
- Cannon, B.J., 2016, ‘Terrorists, geopolitics and Kenya’s proposed border wall with Somalia’, Journal of Terrorism Research 7 (2): 22–37.
- Chambas, M.I., International Peace Institute (IPI) Conference ‘Investing in peace and the prevention of violence in West Africa and the Sahel-Sahara’ available at https://www.ipinst.org /2016/06/investing-in-peace-and-the-prevention-of-violence-in-west-africa-and-the-sahel-sahara#5, accessed October 2016.
- Davis, J., ed., 2007, Africa and the War on Terrorism, Aldershot (Hampshire, UK): Ashgate Publishing.
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- Francis, D.J., 2006, Uniting Africa: Building Regional Peace and Security Systems, Aldershot (Hampshire, UK): Ashgate.
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- Hartzenberg, T., 2011, ‘Regional integration in Africa’, World Trade Organisation Staff Working Paper ERSD 14, p. 5.
- Institute for Security Studies (ISS), 2013, ‘The new ECOWAS counter-terrorism strategy and its implications for West Africa’, http://www.polity.org.za/article/the-new-ecowas-counter-terrorism-strategy-and-its-implications-for-west-africa-2013-03-15, accessed 5 September 2014.
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- Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Today, 2015, ‘The fight against Boko Haram tangled up in Nigerian and regional politics’, https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-fight-against-boko-haramtangled-up-in-nigerian-and-regional-politics, accessed October 2016.
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- Kaplan, R. ‘The coming anarchy’, http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1994/02/the coming-anarchy/304670/, accessed 26 August 2014.
- Kilcullen, D., Counterinsurgency Redux, http://smallwarsjournal.com/documents/ kilcullen1.pdf, accessed 28 August 2013.
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- Mahmoud, Y., International Peace Institute (IPI) Conference, ‘Investing in peace and the prevention of violence in West Africa and the Sahel-Sahara’, available at https://www.ipinst.org/2016/06/investing-in-peace-and-the-prevention-of-violence-in-west-africa and-the-sahel-sahara#5, accessed October 2016.
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- Mills, G., 2007, ‘Africa’s new strategic significance’, in Davis, J., ed., Africa and the War on Terrorism, Aldershot (Hampshire, UK): Ashgate Publishing.
- Moki, S., 2010, ‘From blueprint to implementation: assessing the progress of the African Union in the fight against terrorism’, in Davis,, J., ed., Terrorism in Africa: The Evolving Front in the War on Terror, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
- Okeke, G.N., 2014, ‘The UNSC Resolution 1373: an appraisal of lawfare in the fight against terrorism’, Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution 6 (3): 39–47.
- Okpaga, A., Chijioke, U.S., and Eme, O.I., 2012, ‘Activities of Boko Haram and insecurity question in Nigeria’, Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review 1 (9): 82.
- Omar, F., 2013, ‘Somali al-Shababb group says Kenya can’t act on its threats’, Reuters, 22 September, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/22/us-kenya-attack-alshabaab-idUSBRE98Lo CI20130922, accessed 2 September 2014.
- Onapajo, H., Uzodike and U.O., Whetho, A., 2012, ‘Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria: the international dimension’, South African Journal of International Affairs 19 (3) 337–57.
- Onuoha, F.C., 2010, ‘The Islamist challenge: Nigeria’s Boko Haram crisis explained’, African Security Review 19 (1): 54–67.
- Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2013, Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Multidimensional-Poverty-Index-2013-Alkire-Roche-and-Seth.pdf, accessed 29 August 2014.
- Palmer, A.D., 2007, ‘Political terrorism in West Africa’, in Davis, J., ed., Africa and the War on Terrorism, Aldershot (Hampshire, UK): Ashgate Publishing.
- Plan of Action of the AU High-Level Inter-Governmental Meeting on the Prevention and Combatting of Terrorism in Africa, available at http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/ar/libros/iss/pdfs/oau/PoAfinal.pdf, accessed 28 August 2014.
- Report of the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, 2004, ‘A more secure world: our shared responsibility’, http://www.un.org/en/peacebuilding/pdf/historical/hlp_more_ secure_world.pdf, accessed 26 August 2014.
- Report of the Oxford Research Group of the Remote Control Project, From New Frontier to New Normal: Counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel-Sahara, available at
- http://oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/sites/default/files/From%20New%20Frontier%20to%20New%20Normal%20%20Counterterrorism%20operations%20in%20the%20Sahel-Sahara.pdf, accessed 29 August 2014.
- Schmid, A. and Jongman, A.J., 1988, Political Terrorism: A New Guide to Actors, Authors, Concepts, Databases, Theories, and Literature, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.
- Seequeh S., 1996, ‘Our political crisis: revolution or Holocaust?’, Heritage (5): 5–12.
- Simpson, M., 2010, ‘An Islamic Solution to State Failure in Somalia’, in J. Davis, ed., Terrorism in Africa: The Evolving Front in the War on Terror, Lanham MD: Lexington Books.
References
Agbiboa, D.E., 2014, ‘Terrorism without borders: Somalia’s Al-Shabaab and the global jihad network’, Journal of Terrorism Research 5 (1): 27–33.
Alao, C.A. 2013, ‘Islamic radicalisation and violence in Nigeria’, in J. Gow, E. Olonishak and F. Dijxhorn, eds, Militancy and Violence in West Africa: Religion, Politics and Radicalisation.
Alem, H., 2010, ‘The State in Historical and Comparative Perspective: State Weakness and the Spectre of Terrorism in Africa’, in J. Davis, ed., Terrorism in Africa: The Evolving Front in the War on Terror, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Ali, A.M., 2008, ‘The Al-Shabaab Al-Mujahidiin – a profile of the first Somali terrorist organisation’,https://issafrica.org/acpst/uploads/Terrorism%20Profile%20of%20the%20first%20Somali%20terrorist%20organisation.pdf, accessed October 2016.
Azumah, J., 2015, ‘Boko Haram in retrospect’, Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 26 (1): 33–52.
Butime, H.R., 2015, ‘Foundation of terrorism in Kenya’, Азия и Африка сегодня (10): 53–8.
Cannon, B.J., 2016, ‘Terrorists, geopolitics and Kenya’s proposed border wall with Somalia’, Journal of Terrorism Research 7 (2): 22–37.
Chambas, M.I., International Peace Institute (IPI) Conference ‘Investing in peace and the prevention of violence in West Africa and the Sahel-Sahara’ available at https://www.ipinst.org /2016/06/investing-in-peace-and-the-prevention-of-violence-in-west-africa-and-the-sahel-sahara#5, accessed October 2016.
Davis, J., ed., 2007, Africa and the War on Terrorism, Aldershot (Hampshire, UK): Ashgate Publishing.
de Melo, J. and Tsikata, Y., 2014, ‘Regional integration in Africa: challenges and prospects’, *World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) Working Paper, No. 2014/037, http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/workingpapers/2014/en_GB/wp2014037/_files/91232836473913865/default/wp2014-037.pdf, accessed 17 July 2014.
Defence Web ‘Trans-Sahel ‘‘new frontier’’ in global counter-terrorism operations’, http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_contentandview=articleandid=35765:trans sahel-new-frontier-in-global-counter-terrorism-operationsandcatid=49:National%20Security, accessed 29 August 2014.
Farah, D. and Shultz, R., 2004, ‘Al-Qaeda’s Growing Sanctuary’, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48221-2004Jul13.html, accessed 26 August 2014.
Francis, D.J., 2006, Uniting Africa: Building Regional Peace and Security Systems, Aldershot (Hampshire, UK): Ashgate.
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2016, available at http://www.ophi.org.uk/multidimen-sional-poverty-index/global-mpi-2016/, accessed 22 November 2016. Global Centre on Cooperative Security, 2014, ‘Countering violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel’, available at http://www.globalcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/CVE-WA-and-Sahel-project description.pdf, accessed 31 January 2017.
Gow, J., Olonishakin, E. and Dijxhorn, F., eds, 2013, Militancy and Violence in West Africa: Religion, Politics and Radicalisation, London: Routledge.
Hartzenberg, T., 2011, ‘Regional integration in Africa’, World Trade Organisation Staff Working Paper ERSD 14, p. 5.
Institute for Security Studies (ISS), 2013, ‘The new ECOWAS counter-terrorism strategy and its implications for West Africa’, http://www.polity.org.za/article/the-new-ecowas-counter-terrorism-strategy-and-its-implications-for-west-africa-2013-03-15, accessed 5 September 2014.
Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Analysis, 2016, ‘Can AMISOM exit Somalia responsibly by 2020?’, https://issafrica.org/pscreport/situation-analysis/can-amisom-exit-somalia-responsibly-by-2020 , accessed 28 October 2016.
Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Today, 2015, ‘The fight against Boko Haram tangled up in Nigerian and regional politics’, https://issafrica.org/iss-today/the-fight-against-boko-haramtangled-up-in-nigerian-and-regional-politics, accessed October 2016.
Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Today, 2017, ‘Can the joint task force against Boko Haram stay the course?’, https://issafrica.org/iss-today/can-the-joint-task-force-against-boko-haram-stay-thecourse, accessed January 2017.
Kaplan, R. ‘The coming anarchy’, http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1994/02/the coming-anarchy/304670/, accessed 26 August 2014.
Kilcullen, D., Counterinsurgency Redux, http://smallwarsjournal.com/documents/ kilcullen1.pdf, accessed 28 August 2013.
Kouassi, R., 2007, ‘The itinerary of the African integration process: an overview of the historical landmarks’, African Integration Review 1 (2).
Mahmoud, Y., International Peace Institute (IPI) Conference, ‘Investing in peace and the prevention of violence in West Africa and the Sahel-Sahara’, available at https://www.ipinst.org/2016/06/investing-in-peace-and-the-prevention-of-violence-in-west-africa and-the-sahel-sahara#5, accessed October 2016.
Mann, S.F., 2013, ‘Tit-for-tat: Kenya, Somalia, and the resurgence of al-Shabaab’, Small Wars Journal, 29 November, http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/tit-for-tat-kenya-somalia-and-theesurgence-of-al-shabaab#_edn6, accessed 2 September 2014.
Mills, G., 2007, ‘Africa’s new strategic significance’, in Davis, J., ed., Africa and the War on Terrorism, Aldershot (Hampshire, UK): Ashgate Publishing.
Moki, S., 2010, ‘From blueprint to implementation: assessing the progress of the African Union in the fight against terrorism’, in Davis,, J., ed., Terrorism in Africa: The Evolving Front in the War on Terror, Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.
Okeke, G.N., 2014, ‘The UNSC Resolution 1373: an appraisal of lawfare in the fight against terrorism’, Journal of Law and Conflict Resolution 6 (3): 39–47.
Okpaga, A., Chijioke, U.S., and Eme, O.I., 2012, ‘Activities of Boko Haram and insecurity question in Nigeria’, Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review 1 (9): 82.
Omar, F., 2013, ‘Somali al-Shababb group says Kenya can’t act on its threats’, Reuters, 22 September, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/22/us-kenya-attack-alshabaab-idUSBRE98Lo CI20130922, accessed 2 September 2014.
Onapajo, H., Uzodike and U.O., Whetho, A., 2012, ‘Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria: the international dimension’, South African Journal of International Affairs 19 (3) 337–57.
Onuoha, F.C., 2010, ‘The Islamist challenge: Nigeria’s Boko Haram crisis explained’, African Security Review 19 (1): 54–67.
Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2013, Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Multidimensional-Poverty-Index-2013-Alkire-Roche-and-Seth.pdf, accessed 29 August 2014.
Palmer, A.D., 2007, ‘Political terrorism in West Africa’, in Davis, J., ed., Africa and the War on Terrorism, Aldershot (Hampshire, UK): Ashgate Publishing.
Plan of Action of the AU High-Level Inter-Governmental Meeting on the Prevention and Combatting of Terrorism in Africa, available at http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/ar/libros/iss/pdfs/oau/PoAfinal.pdf, accessed 28 August 2014.
Report of the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, 2004, ‘A more secure world: our shared responsibility’, http://www.un.org/en/peacebuilding/pdf/historical/hlp_more_ secure_world.pdf, accessed 26 August 2014.
Report of the Oxford Research Group of the Remote Control Project, From New Frontier to New Normal: Counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel-Sahara, available at
http://oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/sites/default/files/From%20New%20Frontier%20to%20New%20Normal%20%20Counterterrorism%20operations%20in%20the%20Sahel-Sahara.pdf, accessed 29 August 2014.
Schmid, A. and Jongman, A.J., 1988, Political Terrorism: A New Guide to Actors, Authors, Concepts, Databases, Theories, and Literature, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.
Seequeh S., 1996, ‘Our political crisis: revolution or Holocaust?’, Heritage (5): 5–12.
Simpson, M., 2010, ‘An Islamic Solution to State Failure in Somalia’, in J. Davis, ed., Terrorism in Africa: The Evolving Front in the War on Terror, Lanham MD: Lexington Books.