Africa

Irregular migration from and through Tunisia is on the rise, as a growing number of migrants from the Maghreb head to Europe and an increasing flow of people from sub-Saharan Africa transit or stop there. This year has witnessed an alarming escalation of irregular maritime migration via this dangerous central Mediterranean route. Not only have the numbers of people attempting the journey grown, but they have also become more diverse, in terms of age, socio-economic status, and gender.

To help understand the current migration dynamics and their broader implications, the Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to invite you to join a virtual panel discussion featuring several experts on migration policy and Tunisia.

Acknowledging African Agency

(FPRI) — When it comes to US policy toward Africa, the Biden administration’s new National Security Strategy goes a step or two further than the Africa-specific strategy. It directly mentions the importance of supporting women’s rights—albeit in connection with countering terrorism.

Global terror groups have set their sights on Africa, making a common African Union-led approach a matter of urgency.

As Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda leaders have been targeted and eliminated internationally, the terrorist groups have expanded and consolidated their African operations. According to Jihad Analytics, half the attacks claimed by IS since the beginning of 2022 were carried out in 10 African countries. Among them were Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria – the four Boko Haram-affected countries of the Lake Chad Basin.

Moroccan authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of five jihadists who were preparing terrorist attacks in the country. Aged between 20 and 45, members of the ISIS cell were active in the “Habata Benmansour” village in Kenitra, Sidi Yahya Zaer (near Rabat), Dchira in Inzegane Ait Melloul, commune of Bouaboud (province of Chichaoua).

First of all, how should we define radicalization? Radicalization refers to a social and moral disruption process. This leads an individual to the adoption of a new vision of society, and new behaviors that, in the end, break the social pact. The European Union gives another definition according to which radicalization is the adoption process, by an individual, of a radical ideology in which violence is advocated in order to reach a specific objective.

Plus de 80 % des 137 millions d’africains faisant face à une insécurité alimentaire aigüe—un chiffre record—se trouvent dans des pays en conflit. Cela reflète le fait que le conflit demeure le principal facteur de la crise alimentaire en Afrique.

Points saillants

Une panoplie d’acteurs, de facteurs et de motivations caractérise l’environnement sécuritaire de l’ouest du Sahel. Cette réalité appelle à des réponses adaptées à chaque contexte.

Le nombre d’évènements violents impliquant les groupes islamistes militants a quadruplé dans l’ouest du Sahel depuis 2019. Les 2 800 évènements violents prévus pour 2022 sont le double de l’année précédente. La violence s’est étendue dans son intensité et sa portée géographique :

Le prédicateur originaire des Hauts-de-France, actuellement détenu en Belgique et dont la France réclame l’extradition, a déposé plainte pour diffamation à l’encontre du ministre français de l’Intérieur pour des propos tenus le 2 septembre.