Radicalisation and violent extremism in West Africa
Implications for African and international security
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5680980 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Olawale Ismail (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 209-230 |
| Publication date | 2013-05-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Conflict Security and Development (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1467-8802 • E-ISSN: 1478-1174 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14678802.2013.796209 |
| OpenAlex | W1982131477 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 9 |
This article interrogates emerging trends and patterns in the process of radicalisation and violent extremism in West Africa and the implications for regional and international security regimes, practices and thinking. It argues that there are real and imagined challenges of radicalisation and violent extremism. The overarching view is that the emergence of intra- and extra-African preoccupation with violent extremism alone, rather than alongside seriously addressing its structural undercurrents related to preventing and interrupting the process of radicalisation, distorts the security realities and further exacerbates the security situation in Africa. Radicalisation and violent extremism further integrates West Africa into global security assemblages, yet the absence or non-incorporation of an indigenous African (civil society) perspective or counter-narrative about radicalisation and violent extremism uncritically fuses and conflates the strategic interests of major powers with the local realities in Africa. Moreover, there is a huge potential that national governments could exploit local, regional and international interests in counteracting terrorism for domestic political advantages, such as mis-characterisation of subsisting conflicts, regular political opposition and other local grievances as cases of terrorism, thereby risking a deterioration in security conditions. Notes 1. The real name of the group is Jama'atul Ahlus Sunna Li Da'awatis Jihad (JASLIDAT), but is generally known as Boko Haram (Western education or culture or civilisation is sin). It was formed in 2002 in the North-East city of Maiduguri and later spread to neighbouring states in the region. Following the killing of its founder (Mohammed Yussuf) in July 2009 in armed clashes with the Nigerian security forces, its members regrouped and launched more sophisticated and deadlier attacks in the North-East and some other major cities in Northern Nigeria. See 'How we Formed Boko Haram, by Spokesman'. Vanguard, 27 July 2011. 2. Abrahamsen and Williams Abrahamsen, R. and Williams, M. 2011. Security Beyond the State: Private Security in International Politics, New York: Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar], Security Beyond the State, 3. 3. Keenan, The Dark Sahara. 4. Mainuddin Mainuddin, R., ed. 2002. Religion and Politics in the Developing World: Explosive Interactions, Aldershot: Ashgate. [Google Scholar], Religion and Politics in the Developing World, 2. 5. 'Political Islam' was coined in the 1970s to describe the belief that Islam provides the most appropriate basis for a community and its political, economic, legal and social organisation. Since the onset of the US-led GWoT, the term has been used to qualify Islamist movements involved in terrorism. See Le Sage, 'Terrorism Threats and Vulnerabilities in Africa', 31. 6. Sageman Sageman, Marc. 2008. Leaderless Jihad: Terror Networks in the Twenty-First Century, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], Leaderless Jihad, 25. 7. Rice Rice, S., 2001. 'Africa and the War on Global Terrorism—Prepared Statement of Susan E. Rice, Consultant on African Affairs (former Assistant Secretary of State)'. Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa of the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives. One Hundred Seventh Congress, First Session, 15 November [Google Scholar], 'Africa and the War on Global Terrorism', 12. 8. Le Sage Le Sage, A. 2007. "Terrorism Threats and Vulnerabilities in Africa". In African Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, Edited by: Le Sage, M. 1–38. Washington, DC: Africa Center for Strategic Studies. [Google Scholar], 'Terrorism Threats and Vulnerabilities in Africa', 8. 9. UN General Assembly UN General Assembly, 2006. 'Resolution 60/288: The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy'. UN Doc. A/RES/60/288, 20 September [Google Scholar], 'Resolution 60/288', 4–5. 10. UN Security Council UN Security Council, 2010. 'Resolution 1963'. UN Doc. S/RES/1963, 20 December [Google Scholar], 'Resolution 1963', para.3. 11. UN General Assembly UN General Assembly, 2010. 'Resolution 64/297: The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy'. UN Doc. A/RES/64/297, 13 October [Google Scholar], 'Resolution 64/297', para. 6. 12. Hutchful Hutchful, E. 2007. "ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Efforts". In African Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, Edited by: Le Sage, M. 113–126. Washington, DC: Africa Center for Strategic Studies. [Google Scholar], 'ECOWAS Counter-Terrorism Efforts', 114. 13. 'Nigeria's Terror Attack, Threat to Global Peace'. Nigerian Guardian, 20 September 2011. 14. AU African Union, 2011. 'AU PSC 303rd Meeting Communiqué (PSC/PR)COMM.2(CCCIII)', 8 December [Google Scholar], 'AU PSC', paras. 3 and 4. 15. The 2007 merger of the Algerian Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) and al-Qaeda led to the formation of AQIM. See Le Sage, 'Terrorism Threats and Vulnerabilities in Africa', 20–21. 16. For instance, between July and August 2011, AQIM was responsible for at least 32 attacks against Algerian security forces. See 'North Africa's Sahel: The Next Terrorism Hot Spot?'. Time World, 12 September 2011. 17. BBC News Africa, 'Dozens of Tuareg Rebels Dead in Mali Clash, Says Army', 20 January 2012. 18. International Commission of Jurists International Commission of Jurists, 2011. E-Bulletin on Counter-Terrorism & Human Rights, 54, July [Google Scholar], E-Bulletin on Counter-Terrorism, 3. 19. Hutchful and Aning Hutchful, E. and Aning, K. 2004. "The Political Economy of Conflict". In West Africa's Security Challenges, Edited by: Adebajo, A. and Ismail, R. 195–222. London: Lynne Rienner. [Google Scholar], 'Political Economy of Conflict', 207. 20. 'Boko Haram has Links with al-Qaeda Algerian Minister'. The Nation, 14 November 2011; and 'Boko Haram Makes World Terrorists List'. Sun News, 18 November 2011. 21. 'Arms Inflow From Northern Borders Intensifies'. Nigerian Tribune, 3 October 2011. 22. 'ECOWAS Raises Alarm over Illegal Arms Shipments'. Nigerian Guardian, 22 June 2011. 23. 'JTF Seizes 5,000 Arms in Maiduguri House-To-House Search'. Nigerian Punch, 4 November 2011. 24. These are the 1999 Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, the September 2002 Algiers Plan of Action of the AU for the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, and the 2004 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism. 25. US Department of State, Country Reports, 20. See also Renard Renard, T. 2010. "Terrorism and Other Transnational Threats in the Sahel: What Role for the EU?". In Policy Brief September 2010, Brussels: Center on Global Counter-Terrorism Co-operation. [Google Scholar], 'Terrorism and other Transnational Threats', 3. 26. UN News Centre UN News Centre, 2011. 'Security Council Expands Sanctions on Eritrea Over Support for Armed Groups', 5 December [Google Scholar], 'Security Council Expands Sanctions on Eritrea'. 27. BBC News Africa, 'Nigeria Reports Seized Iranian Arms Shipment to UN', 16 November 2010. 28. 'US Drone Targets Two Leaders of Somali Group Allied with al-Qaeda, Official Says'. Washington Post, 29 June 2011. 29. Keenan Keenan, J., 2012. 'A New Crisis in the Sahel'. Available at: www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/01/20121274447237703.html [Accessed 8 January 2012] [Google Scholar], 'A New Crisis in the Sahel'. 30. Luckham Luckham, R. 1994. The Military, Militarization and Democratization in Africa: A Survey of Literature and Issues. African Studies Review, 37(2): 13–75. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], 'Military, Militarisation and Democratisation', 24. 31. Olonisakin Olonisakin, F., 2009. 'How 9/11 Derailed African Peace'. Lecture delivered at Mills College, Oakland, California, 3 March. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v = iJlenXP7 Hwk [Accessed 24 January 2012] [Google Scholar], 'How 9/11 Derailed African Peace'. 32. Perlo-Freeman et al. Perlo-Freeman, S., Ismail, O. and Skons, E. 2012. "Military Expenditure". In SIPRI Yearbook 2012: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security, 157–193. Stockholm: Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar], 'Military Expenditure'. 33. 'Security: FG to Spend Billions on Weapons'. Daily Trust, 19 December 2011. 34. Obi Obi, Cyril. 2010. Terrorism in West Africa: Real, Emerging or Imagined Threats. African Security Review, 15(3): 88–101. [Google Scholar], 'Terrorism in West Africa', 88. 35. US Department of State, Country Reports, 12
Criminology · Development economics · Economics · Indigenous · Political economy · Political science · Political violence · Politics · Sociology · Terrorism · Violent extremism · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
Abstract Spaces for Intervention in Libya and Nigeria
Civil Society Organizations and Protests’ Escalation to Civil War in Non-Democracies
Satisfaction With The Status Quo
Resistance through Islamic clerics against Boko Haram in northern Nigeria
Leadership and national security
The EU and peacekeeping in Africa
| Citations per year | 0.55 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2015 - 2026 (12) |
| Highly cited | No |