Publication

The paper is concerned with the rise of Islamic militancy in parts of the Sahel and Horn of Africa. The author argues that while the risks of escalation are significant, gains of Islamic militant groups are not attributable to their military strength. Rather, their expanded influence is just as much a symptom of fragile and complex political contexts. Ill-considered interventions, especially those involving Western forces, can reinforce the militants’ narrative, thereby strengthening their credibility and recruitment.