Islamic Militancy in the Horn and Sahel

Terje Ostebo, Assistant Professor at the Center for African Studies and the Department of Religion, University of Florida, wrote a piece titled "Islamic Militancy in Africa" in November 2012 for the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington.

He argued that militant groups in the Horn and Sahel have been able to tap into and persuade marginalized communities, particularly youth, on the grounds that their grievances can be rectified by the establishment of a more pure Islamist culture. The groups tend to be homegrown phenomena, focused on local concerns. Ill-considered interventions, especially those involving Western forces, can reinforce the militants' narrative, thereby strengthening their credibility and recruitment.

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