By John Campbell Jacob Zenn is author of “Unmasking Boko Haram: Exploring Global Jihad in Nigeria,” which was published in April 2020 by Lynne Rienner in association with the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, University of St Andrews. The Sahel and Nigeria were previously distinct areas of
Tag: Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
The Next Dangerous front in ISIS’ Holy War
By Philip Obaji Jr In recent months, Islamist militant groups in Africa allied to the so-called Islamic State have been on the rampage—attacking communities, slaughtering aid workers and seizing important government assets. Since ISIS was squeezed out of its self-proclaimed caliphate in the Middle East last year, its offshoots—particularly those in West
Exploiting Borders in the Sahel: The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara
Pauline Le Roux The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has pursued breadth rather than depth of engagement in its rapid rise along the Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso borders. Adnan Abu Walid al Sahrawi pledging allegiance to the Islamic State. (Image: Screen capture) The rapid escalation of violent activity by militant Islamist
Hard counter-terrorism lessons from the Sahel for West Africa’s coastal states
•The expansion of extremism shows the flaws in current strategies and the need to rethink regional responses. Lori-Anne Theroux-Benoni and Nadia Adam Violent extremist groups are no longer confined to the Sahelian states of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad. Their threat is spilling over into the northern regions of West