Podcast on US Elections, Africa Policy, and Horn of Africa

 Tigrai Press posted on 28 July 2024 a one-hour podcast with me hosted by Bisrat Kebede.  The conversation focuses initially on the election campaign between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, implications of the election for Africa policy, and Project 2025.  The remainder of the podcast deals with many of the ongoing issues in the Horn of Africa.   

Opening Door for Al-Qaeda in Sudan

 The Conversation published on 10 May 2024 a commentary titled "Sudan's descent into Chaos Sets Stage for Al-Qaida to Make a Return to Historic Stronghold" by Sara Harmouch, American University.

Both the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been accused of recruiting Islamist fighters, fueling fears that the civil war will--regardless of the victor--result in a toehold for extremist groups such as al-Qaeda.  

Russian Mercenaries Behind Killings in Mali

 The New York Times published on 31 May 2022 an article titled "'The Killings Didn't Stop.'  In Mali, a Massacre With a Russian Footprint" by Elian Peltier, Mady Camara, and Christaan Triebert.

Mercenaries employed by the Russian Wagner Group have been implicated in a mass killing in Mali.  Russia and China blocked a vote of the UN Security Council on an independent investigation.  

Could Somalia Be the Next Afghanistan?

 Foreign Policy posted on 22 September 2021 a commentary titled "Could Somalia Be the Next Afghanistan?" by Omar S. Mahmood and Abdihakim Ainte.  

Somalia has many similarities to the situation in Afghanistan but there are also important differences.  Without significant changes in Somalia, its path could well mirror the outcome in Afghanistan where the Taliban's success has emboldened al-Shabaab.  

Somalia: Rehabilitation Program for Former Members of Al-Shabaab

The Royal United Services Institute published in January 2019 a report titled "Deradicalisation and Disengagement in Somalia: Evidence from a Rehabilitation Programme for Former Members of Al-Shabaab" by James Khalil, Rory Brown, Chris Chant, Peter Olowo, and Nick Wood.

The report draws on interviews with 129 former members of al-Shabaab as to how and why they enlisted, how and why they disengaged, and their experiences of reintegration after leaving al-Shabaab.

Life after Al-Shabaab

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 5 December 2017 its third account of a female returnee from al-Shabaab titled "Life after Al-Shabaab: A Returnee Puts the Pieces Together" by Cassidy Parker.

This woman, who managed to return to her home in Kenya and remarry after failing to find her first husband in Somalia, describes the forced use of narcotics and routine sexual abuse by al-Shabaab fighters.

Another Somali-Kenyan Woman Kidnapped by Al-Shabaab Speaks Out

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 28 November 2017 a second interview with a woman kidnapped by al-Shabaab titled "Commanding Attention: A Female Al-Shabaab Ex-commander Speaks Out" by Cassidy Parker.

The woman, who escaped from an al-Shabaab camp in Somalia and returned to Kenya, was reluctant to describe her experience for fear of retribution by al-Shabaab or Kenyan security services. While not personally sexually abused because of her leadership position, she describes routine abuse of other women.

Nine Years of Sexual Abuse in an Al-Shabaab Camp

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published on 21 November 2017 an article titled "Nine Years in an Al-Shabaab Camp: One Woman's Story" by Cassidy Parker, ISS consultant.

This is a personal account of a woman from Mombasa, Kenya, who followed her husband to an al-Shabaab camp in Somalia and spent most of her nine years as a sex slave for al-Shabaab fighters before contracting HIV/AIDS and escaping back to Mombasa.

Mombasa: A City of Fragile Potential

The Brenthurst Foundation published in 2017 a study titled "Mombasa: A City of Fragile Potential" by Wanjiku Mungai and Saul Musker, both fellows at the Brenthurst Foundation.

The authors conclude that Mombasa faces a range of imposing challenges such as an infrastructure system that is insufficient to meet the demands of a growing population, an unskilled and uneducated workforce and high levels of youth unemployment, the threat of local extremist groups, drug-related violence, and ever-present social tension. While Mombasa's challenges are profound, they are not insurmountable and the city has the potential to drive Kenya's economic growth.

Violent Extremism in Kenya

The Rift Valley Institute published in February 2017 a summary discussion titled "Violent Extremism in Kenya: Risk and Resilience." It concluded that key mechanisms determining resilience or increasing risk within communities are relationships between social groups, between government and communities, and between different generations.

Somali-American Youth Group Turns Down USG Grant

The Voice of America ran a brief article on 2 February 2017 titled "Somali-American Youth Group Rejects Nearly $500K from Government" by Harun Maruf and Dan Joseph.

The Department of Homeland Security awarded just under $500,000 last month to a Somali-American youth group dedicated to the prevention of extremism and known as Ka Joog, which means "stay away" as stay away from extremism. The group turned down the grant because of what it calls the new administration's anti-Muslim policies.

Africa's Unique Vulnerability to Violent Extremism

Project Syndicate published on 9 January 2017 a commentary titled "Africa's Unique Vulnerability to Violent Extremism" by Mohamed Yahya, Africa Regional Program Coordinator for the United Nations Development Program.

The author argues that an exclusively military response to extremism can be a waste of resources. Poverty and underdevelopment can not be ignored if we are to combat extremism effectively.

I wrote an article on this subject for the summer/fall 2016 issue of the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs titled "Poverty and Terrorism in Africa: The Debate Continues." I came to a similar conclusion, arguing that poverty is not the root cause of terrorism but contributes to an environment that has enabled terrorist organizations to draw support. Supporting poverty reduction in Africa is the right thing to do for a number of reasons, regardless of its limited benefits in the fight against terrorism.

Gender, Media, and the Politics of Female Violent Extremism in Kenya

The Wilson Center in Washington published in December 2016 a policy brief titled "Beyond Material Interventions: Rethinking the Role of Gender, Media, and the Politics of Female Violent Extremism in Kenya" by Frederick Ogenga, Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding Scholar.

It offers recommendations for the government of Kenya, African Union, international community, and the media for dealing with this problem.

The recommendations are based on a research paper titled "Philosophizing Alternative Pan-African Media and Society Approaches to Countering Female Violent Extremism in Kenya for Peace and Security" by Frederick Ogenga.

Is US Military Cooperation with Africa Working?

World Politics Review published on 23 September 2016 a commentary titled "U.S. Military Assistance to Africa is Growing. But Is It Succeeding?" by Nathaniel D.F. Allen, doctoral candidate at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

The author concludes that it is far from clear that AFRICOM is succeeding in meeting its longer-term objectives of deterring transnational threats and promoting regional security and stability.

Islamic Extremism in Kenya and Nigeria

Chapter 5 titled "Islamic Extremists in Africa: Security Spotlight on Kenya and Nigeria" by Maurice Dawson, University of Missouri, and Wole Adeboje, South Wesleyan University, published in 2016 is available on-line.

IGAD Issues Report on Transnational Threat of Al-Shabaab

The Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) issued in mid-August a report dated March 2016 titled "Al-Shabaab as a Transnational Security Threat." It concludes that al-Shabaab has aspired to become a regional threat with activities in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Its military wing includes two transnational units: the Jaysh Ayman directed against Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and another, Jaysh al-Usra, dedicated to operations against Ethiopia.

Disappointing Results Following Devolution of Power to Kenya's Coast

The International Crisis Group published on 13 July 2016 an analysis titled "Kenya's Coast: Devolution Disappointed." It concludes that political devolution has deflected but not resolved grievances that fuel militancy, which continues to be countered by severe security measures driven by Nairobi. Greater inclusion and cooperation within and between county governments, as well as national-county dialogue, is needed to maximize devolution's potential and ensure militant groups such as al-Shabaab have fewer grievances to exploit.

Violent Extremism in the Horn of Africa

The Global Center on Cooperative Security, a registered charity in the United Kingdom, published in April 2016 a report titled "Violent Extremism and Instability in the Greater Horn of Africa" by Eelco Kessels, Tracey Durner, and Matthew Schwartz, all with the Global Center.

The report provides an overview of the drivers of violent extremism and related sources of insecurity in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Violent Extremism in Africa

Afrobarometer published in June 2016 a study titled "Violent Extremism in Africa: Public Opinion from the Sahel, Lake Chad, and the Horn" by Stephen Buchanan-Clarke and Rorisang Lekalake.

The paper analyzes new opinion data from three of Sub-Saharan Africa's regional hotspots of terrorist and extremist activity: Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin; Ansar Dine, AQIM, and Mourabitoun in the Sahel; and al-Shabaab in the Horn of Africa. The study contains useful public opinion data on a variety of related issues.

US Special Operations Command Africa

The May 2016 issue of the CTC Sentinel contains an interview with Brigadier General Donald C. Bolduc, Commander, Special Operations Command Africa, titled "A View from the CT Foxhole." Bolduc sets forth a common sense US approach for assisting African countries with their counterterrorism challenges.