2022 was not a quiet year for Africa, despite ongoing efforts by governments, international partners and The African Union it is fair to say that terror in Africa remained high for another year. Recent research by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies noted a staggering 300 per cent increase in militant Islamist violence over the last decade. More than 6,200 violent events were attributed to terrorist groups in 2022, a 21 per cent increase from the previous year, the report noted. Almost 15,000 deaths were linked to the increase in terrorist-related activity. Nearly 95 per cent of the incident surge since 2019 has come from two areas — Somalia and the western Sahel, a semi-arid region crossing northern Africa between the Sahara to the north and tropical savannas to the south. These numbers are worrying and show how terrorist groups have become entrenched in the region and managed to carry out devastating attacks.
Boko Haram
One of the most active terrorist organizations in Africa is Boko Haram, also known as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, which is based in Nigeria and has carried out attacks in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. The group, which seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, has been responsible for thousands of deaths and has caused the displacement of millions of people. The group was formed in 2002 and has been responsible for a number of high-profile attacks in Nigeria, including suicide bombings, targeted killings, and kidnappings. The group’s goal is to use terror to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria and implement strict sharia law. Boko Haram is particularly known for the kidnappings of school girls in the region, for instance in 2014, the group kidnapped over 200 school girls from the town of Chibok, which sparked international condemnation and brought attention to the group’s activities.
Al-Shabaab
Another major terrorist group in Africa is Al-Shabaab, which is based in Somalia and has carried out attacks in Somalia and neighbouring countries, including Kenya and Uganda. The group, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda, has targeted government and military targets, as well as civilians, and has been responsible for many deaths and injuries. Somalia has been hosting U.S. troops, in May 2022 US President Joe Biden agreed to send around 500 US troops to Somalia to fight al-Shabaab. Although former US President, Donald Trump decided to remove US troops from Somalia, the US has been involved in Somalia for decades. The Biden administration believes that al-Shabaab poses a threat to the US homeland. In recent months, al-Shabaab has continued to attack African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), civilians and the Somali state by launching attacks both within Somalia and in neighbouring Kenya. Somalia’s governance crisis is part of the issue and until it is resolved al-Shabaab will likely continue to capitalise on the many leadership divides and uncertainty.
ISWAP
ISWAP, also known as the Islamic State’s West Africa Province, is a militant group that operates in Nigeria and the surrounding region. The group is a splinter of the larger Boko Haram organization and has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. ISWAP has been responsible for a number of high-profile attacks in Nigeria, including suicide bombings and targeted killings of security personnel. The group has also kidnapped and killed foreign aid workers and Nigerian Christian leaders. The Nigerian government has been criticized for its handling of the insurgency, with many accusing the military of human rights abuses and corruption in their operations against the group.
In recent years, the government claimed to have degraded the group and push them out of major cities, however, the group still continues to carry out suicide bombings and improvised explosive device attacks in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states. In 2022, we saw ISWAP expand their region of influence and launch attacks on the outskirts of Abuja and outside its stronghold in the Northeast.
Thoughts
Terror in Africa remains a significant security concern due to the sheer number of terrorist groups operating in the region, each with their own specific goals and tactics. Terror in Africa is not limited to these groups mentioned above, as there are other smaller groups operating in different countries across the continent with their own goals. While the African Union and the UN have been working to combat terror in Africa with assistance from international partners, the threat of terrorism in Africa remains high.
