Jihadism and military takeovers in West Africa: Burkina Faso coup highlights the links: People cheer at the army after the latest coup in Burkina Faso. Photo by Olympia De Maismont/AFP via Getty Images The West African sub-region at the southern edge of the Sahara Desert has recently attracted significant attention. The main reasons have been …
Jihadism and coups in West Africa’s Sahel region: a complex relationship: Armed and Security Forces of Mali servicemen stand guard on a military vehicle. Stephane De Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images The political instability and insecurity in some Sahelian states in West Africa has led to the capture of political power by their military in recent …
9/11 twenty years on: al-Qaida is defeated – but jihadism is here to stay: Maurice Savage / Alamy Stock Photo Twenty years ago, the terrorist group al-Qaida carried out the deadliest attack on US soil the world had ever seen. Overnight, al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden became the most notorious terrorist to date. Inspired by …
Mali’s volatile mix of communal rivalries and a weak state is fuelling jihadism: A weak Malian state prompted local ethnic communities to organise armed self-defence groups. Flickr Mali’s Mopti region has seen a drastic rise of violence since 2015. Last year at least 202 civilians were killed in 42 incidents. In March this year more …