Africa is a Central theater of global terrorism

Africa still remains turbulent not because of its diverse nature and population growth but because development is disruptive which present huge opportunities for all sections of society. Some of hindering forces of development in Africa include terrorism and extremism which, have become key factors of instability exacerbating conflicts and increasing their complexity, seriously challenging State authority and threatening regional and international peace and security.

The threat is manifesting itself in a combination of small to large scale attacks on civilians and infrastructure. In many instances, it evolves into an open armed confrontation, unprecedented in terms of scale and impact, between terrorist groups and States’ security institutions, leaving hundreds killed or maimed, thousands displaced, in poor humanitarian conditions, disrupting economic activity in the affected areas, instilling fear among populations, creating confusion and most of all, exhausting the already limited capacities of States institutions and forces.

The issue of terrorism in Africa is now most closely associated with Al-Shabab in Somalia, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Sahel region including Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Boko Haram in Nigeria, and to a lesser extent the Lord’s Resistance Army in Central Africa i.e., Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. The most recent Global Terrorism Index report, sub-Saharan Africa is the global epicentre of terrorism, accounting for 48 percent of terrorism-related/caused deaths worldwide. Somalia ranks first in Africa and third globally as the most impacted by terrorism with al-Shabaab, being largest terrorist group responsible for almost 90 percent of Somalia’s terror-related deaths of 2022 which is the most worrisome and they have profoundly fuelled the growing food crisis. Similarly, Burkina Faso has experienced a wave of terrorist attacks in the recent years as insecurity has spread across the Sahel region.

Africa a safe haven for terrorist

An arc of instability which has been left unchecked is stretching across Africa and has transformed the continent into breeding ground for extremist and launch pad for larger scale terrorist attacks around the world. Increased violence perpetrated by armed groups, whose numbers are growing in several regions and sub regions of Africa, where porous borders, illegal arms trafficking and difficult social economic situations has made it difficult to combat terrorism.

Lack of political will and power struggle has immensely created a safe passage for terrorism. Recently Rwanda has been labelled as M23 supporter in Democratic Republic of Congo. Similarly, Sudan was once blacklisted for supporting terrorist activities which included provision of weapons to assassins. In the current day and age, Africa is a continent full of political struggles. For instance, Libya has struggled since the fall of Muammar al-Gaddafi’s in. Similarly, Ethiopia’s poor governance and corruption have led to strong fights between the government and the Tigray forces which is causing devastating effects on the civilians. Somalia is another example of a country full of political turmoil. In short, many countries in Africa currently face some sort of political struggle, and because there is no reconciliation within countries between governing factions and fighters, there usually is no proper governance over that country’s territory. And these activities have created a fertile ground for terrorist to establish themselves in Africa.

Northern Africa is also attractive to terrorist because of the relative weakness of the military and police forces, in conjunction with Western unfamiliarity with the region. The last decade has seen enormous declines in resources for military and police units in most African countries. Instability also contributes to giving the terrorists good chance of evading detection or adverse attention. The terrorists assume (and not without reason) that the lack of strategic importance of the region coupled with Western unfamiliarity with it combine to make Northern Africa a better option than any other on the globe for establishing terrorist cells.

In spite of the fact that terrorism in Africa is the interconnectedness with most of the indigenous conflict internal difference which lies within language, ethnicity, scarce resources weak government; external forces also play a central role in breeding terrorism in Africa for example weapons are readily available throughout the region especially in Somalia yet all of the countries have a severe shortage of financial resources, lack of expertise and military technology. It is a naked truth that these terrorist groups get funds and technical know-how from countries who are supposed to be helping shoulder to the continent.

Effects of terrorism in Africa

That terrorism is presently at its peak in Africa, with so much jobless youth, and a vast proportion of land it is obvious that the phenomena have a place to stay in Africa. In failing to be proactive and productive about its regional interests, foreign direct investment has been diverted in these regions, financial markets have been disturbed, slow domestic investments and also affects governments spending and consumptions plans. In the case of Nigeria, and the North in particular, has found itself suffering significant damage, insecurity has done great economic damage to Nigeria. In 2019, $24 billion worth of capital inflow was recorded in the country but 2020 saw only $9.7 billion received, in what was a four-year low and a 59 per cent drop from the previous year. Reduced investment leads to reduced economic growth and development, which, in turn, leads to more poverty, also further fuelling insecurity, as more people turn to demagogic leaders for inspiration. This is a cycle as vicious as any.

A way forward

The threat of ‘terrorism’ is not peculiar to western countries alone, its tentacles are spreading fast like wild fire ready to consume any object or person in its way. Despite many agreements and convention adopted in response to terrorism, the cases of terrorism are still growing high which indicates that new measures need to be designed which can effectively dismantle terrorism. Africa is unique in its own way therefore terrorism cannot be defeated by military or security forces, law enforcement measures and intelligence operations alone but there is a need to address the conditions conducive to terrorism’s spread, including strengthening efforts for the prevention and peaceful resolutions of prolonged conflicts and also promoting the rule of law and protection of human rights good governance and tolerance and inclusiveness.

Comprehensive approach is needed to deal with long term fight against terrorism which included solutions to challenges to economic growth, promoting good governance, reducing poverty, building state capacity and fight against corruption. In other words, as long as African countries remain geopolitical tools, the great powers, who at this time happen to be all foreign, will not solve African problems. Their priorities will always be shaped by public opinion back at home… Solving these issues require an African solution. But that African solution starts with leadership, the like of which has been sorely lacking for centuries.

Source: Lansing Institute