The Islamic State in Africa: The Emergence, Evolution, and Future of the Next Jihadist Battlefront

by Jason Warner, Ryan Cummings (With), Héni Nsaibia (With), Ryan O'Farrell (With)

Overview

In 2019, Islamic State lost its last remaining sliver of territory in Syria, and its Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed. These setbacks seemed to herald the Caliphate's death knell, and many now forecast its imminent demise. Yet its affiliates endure, particularly in Africa: nearly all of Islamic State's cells on the continent have reaffirmed their allegiance, attacks have continued in its name, many groups have been reinvigorated, and a new province has emerged. Why, in Africa, did the two major setbacks of 2019 have so little impact on support for Islamic State? The Islamic State in Africa suggests that this puzzle can be explained by the emergence and evolution of Islamic State's provinces in Africa, which it calls 'sovereign subordinates'. By examining the rise and development of eight Islamic State 'cells', the authors show how, having pledged allegiance to IS Central, cells evolved mostly autonomously, using the IS brand as a means for accrual of power, but, in practice, receiving relatively little if any direction or material support from central command. Given this pattern, IS Central's relative decline has had little impact on its African affiliates-who are likely to remain committed to the Caliphate's cause for the foreseeable future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780197650301
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Jason Warner is Assistant Professor of Social Sciences at the US Military Academy (West Point) and Director of the Combating Terrorism Center's Africa research. Ryan Cummings is a director of Signal Risk, a Cape Town-based political risk consultancy. Héni Nsaibia is a Senior Researcher at ACLED (Armed Conflict Location&Event Data Project). He is also the founder of Menastream, a risk consultancy providing intelligence analysis. Ryan O"Farrell is a Senior Analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation and a researcher focusing on Islamist movements in east and central Africa, conflict and development in Ethiopia and opposition-held Syria.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Glossary 1. Introduction 2 The Islamic State in Libya 3 The Islamic State in Algeria 4 The Islamic State in Sinai 5 The Islamic State in Tunisia 6 The Islamic State's West Africa Province 7 The Islamic State's West Africa Province--Greater Sahara 8 The Islamic State in Somalia 9 The Islamic State's Central Africa Province--DRC 10 The Islamic State's Central Africa Province--Mozambique 2 11 Conclusion Notes Index

Editorial Reviews

"This book offers an impressive, sweeping look at the rise of the Islamic State on the African continent...The Islamic State of Africa the go-to book for anyone wishing to understand transnational terrorism in Africa in general and the Islamic State's presence on the continent in particular." — Dr. Heather S. Gregg, Professor of irregular warfare, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, senior fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute, The Parameters 53

"This book offers an impressive, sweeping look at the rise of the Islamic State on the African continent...The Islamic State of Africa the go-to book for anyone wishing to understand transnational terrorism in Africa in general and the Islamic State's presence on the continent in particular." — Dr. Heather S. Gregg, Professor of Irregular Warfare, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute, The Parameters 53

From the Publisher