Terrorism Threat

The African continent has suffered from various forms of threats to its peace and stability. These involve environmental degradation, poverty, diseases, hunger, drought and wars. Terrorism however, is emerging as a serious threat to African peace. Salvatore Freni (2010) points out that terrorism has undergone a number of changes and mutations. Salvatore went on to explain that “new” terrorism elements are rooted in globalization and are characterized by structure of terrorist groups which has evolved from hierarchies to networks, are transnational and not only national and are now using new methods causing increasing lethality. The nature of many African countries as noted by Ted Dagne (2011) exhibit, poverty official corruption, weak and failing states are attractive destinations for terrorist organisations. Robert L. Feldman (2009) posited a view that, some parts of Africa may never be at peace. Africa’s Maladies however, has been observed as its own making while others are rooted in the colonial legacy.
Democratization which is conceived as a tool in the fight against terrorism has yielded negative results. Democratizing states have somersaulted to authoritarianism with emerging threats of terrorism. Dr. Jack Calliers (2006) noted that terrorism in Africa is widespread and it is overwhelmingly domestic, sub-state in nature that maims ,kills , and affect millions of people. This paper shall discuss terrorist threat to African peace in the context of ethno-political, economic, human security and personality factors. The paper shall define terms, terrorism and peace. Theoretical framework within which terrorism is understood shall be mentioned and background to the phenomenon stated.
The word terrorism has posed competing views by scholars, academies and legal practitioners. However, different regions and organisations have coined words to it relevant to their operations. Boas Ganor (2008:18) noted that terrorism is a violent struggle in which violence is deliberately used against civilians in order to achieve a political goal. At the Convention on the Prevention and Combating of terrorism, the organization of African unity (OAU) defined an act of terrorism as “any act which is a violation of the criminal laws of a state, party and which may endanger the life, physical integrity or freedom of or cause serious injury or death to any number or group of persons or causes damage to public or private property, natural resources, environmental or cultural heritage”. It can therefore be summarized that, an act of terrorism involve the following, intimidation, disruption, the creation of general insurrection among the public, cause or spread feelings of fear and panic. Peace as a concept is primarily concerned with the creation of a just order in society as noted by Howard (1987). Negative peace is the absence of violence; it is the presence of social justice through equal opportunity, a fair distribution of power and resources, equal protection and impractical enforcement of the law. Peace therefore implies just order and absence of violence.
Various theories have been postulated to explain terrorism. The Political Theory is rooted in governance as a cause of terrorism, lack of rule of law, human rights, free judicial system. Sociological theory focuses on the interplay between social movements and societal response. The Political Theory of fascism which is about consolidation of ultra nationalist ideology. These include Italian, sonany and Islam fascism. There is a theory of religion as a theory of terrorism which Haffman (1993) said,” It is also fact that, about halve of the most dangerous ones on earth are primarily motivated by religious concerns”. The economic theory of rational choice as a theory of Terrorism holds that people will engage in crime after weighing the cost and benefits of their actions, and the Globalization theory of terrorism which Wascar (2004) points on that globalization contributes to dreams, fantasies and rising expectations but at the same time, it leads to dashed hopes, broken dreams and unfulfilled achievements. Therefore, terrorism breeds in the gap between expectations and achievements.
The definition of peace, terrorism and theoretical framework of terrorism shall form the benchmark in this discussion that will unfold on terrorist threat to African peace.
Terrorism phenomenon is not new to Africa. The bombing of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 only reflected existence of terrorist and magnitude of their operations. The writing of Qutb in the 1950s has created a multitude of terrorists advancing dominance of Islam since then. The long establishment of the American soldiers and intelligence in Africa also shows existence of terrorists on the African continent. They are located basically in many parts of Africa. Heat (2013) pointed out that, the involvement of American and French forces in the fight against terrorism in Africa is an indicator as to the treat caused by it.

The lack of coherent leadership and governance in Africa has perpetuated terrorism; Anita Emstafa (2007) noted that, a solid governance structure promoting well-articulated horizontal and vertical division of power is valid and critical in the provision of public goods like security, health care, education and infrastructure. The leadership should put aside self interest in the name of the larger national interests such that resources are equitably distributed. However, in Africa assumption of power is seen as a road to economic monopolization. Doctor Calliers (2006) observed that politics easily degenerate a life and death struggle over private access to limited public resources. These scenarios have seen a rise in terrorist groups regarding established governments as illegitimate due to resource allocation, accountability and transparency for the state. The emergency of the Boko Haram in Nigeria and Alshabab in Somalia is largely due to disregard of political system and leadership Botha A. (2003) observed that what all African states share is evidenced by a high level of governmental and administrative inefficiency, a lack of institutionalization and general disregard for the values of the formal political and economic sectors and a universal resort to personalize and vertical solutions to societal problems. The African led effort in 2004 to support the transitional federal government failed. The terrorist groups considered the government illegitimate and attacked it. Lyman (2009) commented that Kenyans and Ethiopian troops found themselves under relentless attacks from Islamists clan factions opposed to the leadership of the TFS and others recruited to fight a foreign invader. The lack of legitimacy of African governments saw Rene Lemorehard commenting that “the African continent is littered with the wreckage of imploded policies- failed or collapsing states confront us with on all too- familiar litang of scourages. Political leadership’s failure to equitably distribute resources, revenues have seen various groups in Somalia, Nigeria, Mali and Algeria join terrorist groups to challenge the status quo, thereby creating an amiable threat to peace. Radical Islamic Maltatsine and Taliban in Nigeria and Lord’s resistance army in northern Uganda are terror groups against governments.

The BokoHoram attacks in Nigeria have shown inadequacies of governance in the country. The failure by the government to transparently account resources allocation to reduce poverty and prevent all forms of socio-economic and political exclusion has not donewell on averting human insecurity. AdomovoAfenas (2012) concluded that the BokoHoram uprising is primarily the result of the failure of successive governments in Nigeria to fight corruption, provide public services, create economic opportunities and establish accountable and effective security institutions. The former US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton voiced his concern about Nigeria when he said, “the most immediate source of disconnect between Nigeria is wealth and its poverty is the failure of governance at the federal state and local levels this case study shows that in Africa there is poor governance what is posing a serious threat to human and state security. This is also a statement of the obvious that Africa requires governments that are not only accountable to their citizens but also subject to restraint and oversight by other public agencies including civil society without credible systems that checks and balances power of the executive, African regime will remain corrupt, vulnerable to personal rule and abuse. It is rom this framework that terrorism spreads and continues to threaten African peace. The Malian experience with French forces fighting terrorists shows the level of terrorist threats to peace. The dissolution of election results in Algeria inflamed terrorists’ attacks led by the Salatist group that killed thousands in 1992. In one of its gruesome episodes, 412 men, women and children were hacked to death on the night of December 29 1997 in three villages of Algeria. Economic factors have been identified as sources of terrorism and in the Arab world by the Arab Human Development Programme of 2002. It painted a grim picture of conditions in the region. This report observed that per capita growth in the region over the past 20 years was the lowest in the world except in Sub-Sahara Africa. It represented an annual growth rate of 0,5%. The report also highlighted that it will take an average Arab citizen 40 years to double his/ her income while other regions will achieve this level in less than ten years. By 1995 there were 12 million unemployed. By 1999 65 million Arab adults were illiterate. This scenario has seen unemployed youths in Mali joining Al Qedain the Magib (AQUIM)
African governments have been found crafting unsound economic policies. These fail to create employment and development hence abating the terrorist threat. Princeto. N. Layman (2009) summed up the situation in Africa when he pointed out that, the systematic evidence of the dismal record of imposed macro-economic policy restraints on African governments in the absence of domestic agencies of restraint, accountability is beyond contestation. The MEND in the Niger Delta is fighting to gain from resources within its environment. The Niger Delta region has witnessed unprecedented levels of kidnaping, cultism and other criminal activities that threaten internal security. It has been observed that insecurity in this region is linked to oil production where environmental degradation and resource control agitations have triggered violent conflicts. Afem (2012) noted that since the 2012 election controversies, militant groups in the Niger Delta agitating for resource control and environmental control culminated in the 10 October 2010 bomb blast during the country’s fifth Independence anniversary which was claimed responsibility by the movement of the of the Niger Delta (MEND). The blast killed 12 persons and injured many others. This clearly demonstrates a terrorist act and how it can threaten peace and stability of the region.
Religion is one other important avenue where terrorism threat is emerging from. Richard Whelan (2011) pointed out that Qutb’swritings rooted in Islam tend to shape and direct terrorism in Africa. Qutb’s theory of resistance and revolutionary politics have been perfectly matched with Al-Quedaism, “the militant Islamic ideology which is seen as supposed to triumph as spelt out in the Quoran have accelerated terrorism in Africa as from 2009. Richard Whelan (2009) explicitly wrote that the Quoran spread violence. Mark Jurgergens Moyer (2005) wrote a religious doctrine in our view is a tool of mobilization or justification for terrorism rather than a direct cause of it.
John Danis (2009) pointed out that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Jihadists have undated local bazoars with casset tapes filled with messages calling for the distraction of infidels had against US troops in the Afghanistan and Iraq. Islamic revivalism has been reported in countries like Chad, Mali, Mauritaniaand Niger. The level of threats posed has seen Mauritania and Chad sorting U.S assistance. This scenario explains how terrorism is being internationalized from Africa. In Nigeria, clashes between Christians and Muslims have become pronounced with BokoHoram in the lead. John Davies (2009) noted that evidence abounce that Nigeria has become a target of Aggressive radical Sumi Muslims agents with support from religious charities and other outreach groups headquartered in Saudi Arabia. In November 2011, BokoHoramstrack in Maidguru, Bornn state and Potiskun, Vobe state targeting Christian churches. Dozens of people were killed. Religious clashes are also live in Egypt.
A well governed security sector is a key public service and a pre-requisite for stability, recovery and development. National security has been conceived in terms of human development. Former secretary general o the UN , Koi Annan stated that, “today we know that security means far more than the absence of conflict, we know that lasting peace requires a broader vision encompassing areas such as , health, democracy and human rights protection against environmental degradation and the proliferation of deadly weapons. African countries are found to fail to provide security to them. Hostage taking by terrorist groups in Africa is posing a serious to African peace and the relationship with the international community. Michael Shurkin (2013) pointed out that, “the kidnap of American and other western hostages at a natural gas plant in Algeria by Islamic militants possibly in retaliation o far France’s military intervention in Nesbhourg Mali illuminate
The level o insecurity in Arica has seen embassies being attacked, American embassies since 1998 in Kenya, Mombasa and Tanzania were attacked by terrorist groups. This threat o terrorism is immeasurable when executed. Dr. Jack Calliers (2011) pointed out that what makes terrorism so fearsome is that attacks are often directed at group[ of people or symbol that may not be directly linked to their real target, often a government system, practice or ideology. In the process those that suffer injury and death are generally innocent people possibly exemplified by therecent attacks on US embassy in Benghezi Libya that saw the ambassador being killed with three others. This is equally applicable to the vast majority of people killed at the Paradise Hotel close to Mombasa in November 2002. These attacks in countries like Libya shows the extent of how weak the state is as it is coming from conflict that saw Saddaf being slain.
Africa has also witnessed attacks on humanitarian officials. Botha (2003) in John Danis (2009) has quoted a number of incidents including the abduction of members of the International Rescue Committee in August 1999 by the joint forces for the liberation o Liberia who demanded fuel and other assistance in return for their release. In July 2001, gunmen in Mogadishu attacked a World Food Program convoy killing six persons and wounding several others. In March 2001, also in Somalia extremists attacked a medicines frontiers facility killing people, wounding and a hostages. The countries are suffering from governance, Somalia is perennially at war. The country lacks a legitimate leadership to effectively provide human and national security. AQIM terrorist group reportedly provide services and humanitarian assistance in remote areas o Mali. The UN report showed this enabled terrorist groups to develop recruitment and local support networks or gathering information, supply arms and ammunition and other logistics.
The African continent with its porous borders has seen it as a launch pad for terrorist activists. It is a statement of the obvious that small arms and light weapons are not in short supply in Arica with an estimated 100 million in present circulation as noted by Michael Shurkrn (2013). Failed or collapsing states like Somalia, Libya have become free trade zones of the underworld, where black markets in arms and in diamonds, trafficking in Kanuns passport. The weak security in Mali has seen terrorists creating training camps and establishing camps in the Ifogas regions. The fighting in Mali, has been enabled by arms smuggled from Libya. Terrorist activities has forced 400 000 Malians to flee their homes and further aggravated the food crisis that has affected 18 million people. Anangwa Alfred (2006) wrote, arms transfer and trafficking in Arica are having a devastating impact.
Increase of piracy on African sector both in the east and West African coast elaborate failure of state to provide security. Francois Very explained that, piracy probably still saves as a catalyst in raising awareness about the boring risk at sea and continue to stimulate the need to put in place measures to deal with this challenge. Alshebab’s survival stems from the bleakness o the Somali government, but also from its supply from the sea due to the absence of the Somali’s jurisdiction over territorial waters. In the gulf of Guinea, the threat of Nigeria’s coast results from armed attacks by rebel groups from the land against offshore oil infrastructure and shopping. Illegal fishing threatened environmental source of food for African population promotes famine, sustain unemployment and encourage violence as seen by pirate attacks upon illegal ising vessels. Piracy thus serves to raise the awareness of the degeneration o order at sea off African coast and its vertical security consequences to state, regions and the international community.Piracy draws attention to human security due to threats feeding off the collapse of order along certain actions o the African coasts. On 18 January 2012, a report by the secretary general AU to the gulf of Guinea piracy assessment mission estimated that piracy has resulted in a current annual loss of revenue of US 2 billion to the west African economies and that the number of ships docking at Cotonou Benin has declined by 70% as a result of the attacks. The port also noted that there is wider trafficking and transnational organized crime including drug trafficking while bickering, counterfeit medicine and cigarettes.
Terrorist threat to African peace has been exacerbated by globalization. Globalization is regarded as Westernization and Americanization. These represent cultural religious and technological advancements which are totally opposed by Islam. They are viewed as Hegemonic in nature trying to usurp all other cultures. Arab intellectuals add terrorist threat by assuming that globalization is cultural penetration. It is seen as creating a cultural hegemony and dependency and to deprive countries o their identity and cultural character. HateemBarackat (1993) attacked technological development in globalization by assessing that the information revolution has not brought about harmony, co-operation and mutual support among states and people or the common good of humanity but rather provided a new and effective tool for an entrenching the Hegemon of those who control the means by which the revolution is taking place. Advances in technology enhance their mobility and their ability to communicate internally and externally. Competition for jobs has brought humility to some as globalization take center stage. Bin Laden’s deputy, Alzavarionce argued that, it is better or the youth of Islam to pick up arms that to submit to the humiliation of globalization and Western hegemon.
This paper has attempted to explore why terrorism is posing serious threat to African peace. The exploration was rooted inadequacy of governance as a source of terrorism in Africa. The analyst has also been through a focus on security, religion, political and economic factors as sources o terrorism in Arica. Globalization was also analyzed to show how it has natured activities o terrorism. The paper has observed that lack of transparency, accountability, rule o law and dialogue perpetuate terrorist activities.
Economic maladministration as a source of terrorism is seen as rooted in poor macro-economic policies. Natural resources are only utilized to benefit a few which has resulted in higher levels of poverty, unemployment, hunger and destitution. It is within the framework that terrorist organisations have found havens in Africa and cause havoc.
The African leadership has been accused o lacking governance. Political power assumption is viewed as enrichment avenues. The leadership has failed to account and transparently carry out their mandate to the public. Terrorist groups emerged weakening separations for these leaders whom they regard as illegitimate.
Globalization has been viewed as adversity legamonic tendencies which the Arab world sees as challenging Islam globalization stand accused as cultural, religions imperialism. Technological advancements have also enabled sophistication of terrorist operations.
African governments due to their weak collapsing state have failed to provide for human and national security. Terrorists have established training bases, supply roots and land pads from unsecured boarders.
Religion has been used by terrorist to justify their attacks on other religions such like Christianity. The Islam principle of oneness is driving them to attack those not subscribing to their ideology. The African continent needs to embrace democratic practices to eradicate terrorism. African governments need to draw sound legislation that is explicit in the fight against terrorist act. The involvement of Africa in the fight against terrorism also need to be embraced of Africa is to enjoy peace and sustain its development.

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