Africa

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.

Les Ethiopiens n’avaient jusqu’ici jamais bénéficié de ce statut, contrairement aux Soudanais.

Les Etats-Unis ont annoncé vendredi octroyer à tous les Ethiopiens présents sur leur sol un statut qui protège de l’expulsion et autorise à travailler, en raison “du conflit armé” et de “la crise humanitaire” dans leur pays.

As the conflict enters its deadliest phase, U.S. leadership and collaboration with African partners are desperately needed to stop the slide.

In August, the devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia resumed, effectively ending the March 2022 humanitarian truce between the Ethiopian federal government and Tigrayan forces, which many hoped would pave the way for a negotiated cease-fire and peace talks. This week, the African Union’s chairperson called for an immediate cease-fire and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called on the parties to cease hostilities and participate in talks organized by the African Union. What comes next in Ethiopia will have major implications for its people, the strategically vital Red Sea arena and for U.S. interests in the region. Stepped up, senior-level U.S. engagement is direly needed to get Ethiopia on a path toward peace.