Neighbours in Arms
By General Stephen Kabanda, Peace and Security professional with over 37 years of military and diplomatic experience.
The incidence of extremist violence in Africa has increased significantly over the past decade, particularly in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, and the Horn of Africa. While ideological narratives are present, it has been consistently observed that governance failures, socio-economic exclusion, and local conflict dynamics play a decisive role in recruitment into militant groups.
This blog analyses the drivers of terrorism in Africa, critiques Western policy approaches, and examines the human consequences of ongoing conflict. It then evaluates examples of partial counter-terrorism success and concludes with a biblical framework for community-based peacebuilding.
DRIVERS OF TERRORISM IN AFRICA
There are several drivers for Terrorism. The most common ones in Africa are the following:
Governance and Legitimacy Deficits - Widespread corruption in Africa, often accepted as standard practice, breeds hopelessness among the population. This, compounded by state violence and exclusion from decision-making processes, erodes public trust and serves as a tipping point to recruitment into terrorist activities.
Socio-economic marginalisation - High unemployment and limited livelihood opportunities create opportunities for recruitment networks that promise income, protection, and social protection.
Peripheral Geography and Ungoverned Spaces - Regions distant from central authority provide structural advantages for an insurgent organisation and for cross-border mobility. The central government is usually unaware of the growing insurgency until it is too late.
WESTERN COUNTER-TERRORISM APPROACHES AND THEIR LIMITATION
Thematic Patterns: The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians that he not only shared the gospel with them, but he also shared his life. This spirit is similar to how Western nations have, in certain instances, assisted Africa. They have promoted their values and encouraged Africa to embrace democracy, good governance, and transparency. However, Western intervention has often fallen short due to limitations. Some of the limitations include the following.
Securitisation without governance reform. The approach of “Bombing out” the terrorist threat without resolving the underlying grievances that lead to terrorism is one of the main failures of Western interventions.
Partnerships with governments or security actors lacking local legitimacy. This reinforces perceptions of foreign-backed coercion. Sometimes Western powers have partnered with countries that have abused their citizens or not respected the same values of democracy and human rights that they stand for.
Fragmented Strategic Coherence due to overlapping missions and inconsistent diplomatic pressure.
HUMAN IMPACT: DEATHS, INJURIES AND DISPLACEMENT
The human impact of terrorism in Africa is enormous. According to the Global Terrorism Index, Africa has 35 million internally displaced people linked to conflict or violence. Globally, the number of IDPs has risen to about 85 million people. This shows that Africa has a large share of this and is growing, driven by Sudan, DRC, the Sahel, Somalia and others. Usually, injuries are under-reported, but terror events routinely cause dozens to hundreds of wounded.
To consider some figures in some of the hot spots on the continent:
The Sahel region accounts for more than half of global terrorism deaths.
Burkina Faso hosts over 2 million internally displaced persons due to extremist and counterinsurgent violence.
The Lake Chad Basin has approximately 3.1 million displaced persons linked to the Boko Haram and ISWAP conflict.
Somalia continues to experience recurrent displacement driven by al-Shabab violence
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded over 7 million displaced persons, reflecting widespread insecurity and militia conflict.
Mozambique and Sudan also have a share of the displaced population due to the insurgency and conflict there.
These figures demonstrate the scale of human suffering and the interconnectedness of terrorism, governance failure, and humanitarian conditions.
HISTORICAL LEGACIES AND CONTEMPORARY GRIEVEANCE DYNAMICS
In the analysis of counterterrorism in Africa, historical legacies and contemporary grievances also provide insight.
French Monetary Influence in West Africa.
The CFA franc system, though reformed in 2019-2020, remains widely viewed as a symbol of continued economic dependency. This perception reinforces narratives of external dominance that militant and nationalist actors use to mobilise and gain legitimacy. This has led to anti-French sentiments, especially in francophone Africa.
Mozambique: Colonial Legacies and the Cabo Delgado Insurgency
The insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province reflects historical patterns of regional marginalisation dating to Portuguese colonial rule. Under colonial administration, the north functioned primarily as a labour and resource frontier, receiving limited investment and political integration.
After independence, political and economic power remained concentrated among elites in the south, particularly those aligned with the ruling FRELIMO. At the same time, the Muslim-majority coastal communities in the north felt persistent exclusion. The insurgent group Ansar al-Sunna mobilis ed these grievances by framing its campaign as a struggle against political exclusion and economic dispossession. It is worth noting that local socioeconomic discontent preceded the group's later adoption of transnational jihadist ideology, indicating that identity and livelihood grievances were the primary drivers of mobilisation rather than external ideological influence.
WHAT HAS WORKED IN COUNTER TERRORISM IN AFRICA
Western counterterrorism efforts also have some success stories. Notable among these are the following:
Combined Security and Stabilisation Operations. The Rwandan and SADC operations in Cabo Delgado, with support from the European Union, have been an enormous success, disrupting the insurgency. Additionally, the EU has supported counter-terrorism operations in Mozambique by sponsoring the country's counter-terrorism strategy and promoting regional cooperation through the UNODC framework. However, the EU's approach has faced criticism, with some viewing it as overly transactional.
Regional Security Coordination. The Multi-National Joint Task Forces that the EU has supported have improved intelligence gathering and sharing, as well as border operations. The Chad basin MNJTF is a good example of this success
Community-based prevention, rehabilitation and livelihood programmes: Terrorism often arises in ungoverned spaces and isolated communities. Local populations typically possess the knowledge and trust networks necessary to identify and prevent radicalisation. Therefore, community-oriented policing and outreach efforts should prioritise civilians in lower-income regions, particularly those in more rural or remote areas. This has shown strong results in reducing recruitment vulnerability.
A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE FOR PEACE BUILDING
The Bible lays great emphasis on justice and love for our neighbour. Micah the prophet emphasises the importance of Justice and mercy as the main things that please God in verse 8 of his §th chapter. In Mathew 22:39, Jesus points out that the second greatest commandment is one of loving one's neighbour as oneself. It is therefore imperative that evil in the form of terrorism must be fought irrespective of where it rears its ugly head. In the interest of Justice and love for our neighbour, we must show compassion for the millions affected.
We can also note that the Bible requires citizens to obey their rulers. Still, those given the authority to rule must do so with accountability, knowing they will give account not only to those they rule over but also to God. From the biblical perspective, therefore, we can have an integrated system of security systems that are national and professional, while they are integrated into community structures capable of reconciliation, early warning, trauma healing, and social support. Such a balanced model can ensure effective peacebuilding in society.
CONCLUSION
Terrorism in Africa is both a local and a global issue. The European Union has made significant efforts to counter terrorism across the continent, but it is essential to move beyond transactional agendas and conditional arrangements that overlook local realities. A partnership that is more equal, locally driven, and development-focused will be the only way to ensure regional security and protect European interests.
The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the Jubilee Centre or its trustees.
