Islamist Militant Violence and Counterterrorism in West Africa

Evolution, Lessons Learned, and Potential Trajectory
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-23001-4
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 184 Seiten, Format (B × H): 138 mm x 216 mm

Reihe: Political Violence

This book examines the intricate dynamics of jihadism, terrorism, and counterterrorism in Africa, with a particular focus on the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin in West Africa.

Grounded in empirical, statistical, and geo-spatial analyses, this volume explores the historical, ideological, and geopolitical roots of jihadist movements, focusing on African Islamist militant groups affiliated to Al Qaeda and ISIS. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the conflict incidents involving Islamist militant movements on the continent, particularly from the aftermath of the Arab Spring in 2012 to 2024, examining the mechanisms of their spread and the challenges that they pose to African nations and the international community. It also assesses the effectiveness of counterterrorism strategies employed thus far, highlighting the limitations of military responses and the need for more holistic and inclusive approaches that emphasize cooperation rather than competition between external actors and address key drivers of terrorism such as poverty, governance failures, and social inequalities.

This book will be of much interest to students of terrorism studies, African politics, security studies and International Relations.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate, Professional Reference, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bere, Mathieu

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Gewalt Terrorismus, Religiöser Fundamentalismus
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Internationale Beziehungen
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Friedens- und Konfliktforschung
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Afrikanische Geschichte
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Militärwesen Nationale und Internationale Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction Chapter 1: Research Methodology and Analysis of Terrorism in Africa Chapter 2: Evolution And Impact of the Terrorist Crisis in Africa: Case of the Sahel Chapter 3: Speculating About the Future: Risks and Challenges Chapter 4: Lessons Learned and Gaps in the Current State of our Knowledge Conclusion Annexes

Über Autor(innen)

Mathieu Bere is a research scholar, conflict analyst, and consultant based in the United States. He has a doctorate in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from George Mason University, USA. A former Fulbright fellow, he received the 2025 Senior Prize for Strategic Research from the Centre National d’Etudes Stratégiques (Burkina Faso), and has authored a book on terrorism in the Sahel in French and several articles in peer-reviewed journals.