Violent extremism and militarisation in the Sahel region: challenges and prospects
SOURCE: Africa Insight
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2019
TITLE AUTHOR(S): C.Hendricks, T.Omenma
KEYWORDS: AFRICA, MILITARY INTERVENTION, SAHEL REGION, VIOLENCE
DEPARTMENT: African Institute of South Africa (AISA)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 11338
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/15287
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/15287
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2019
TITLE AUTHOR(S): C.Hendricks, T.Omenma
KEYWORDS: AFRICA, MILITARY INTERVENTION, SAHEL REGION, VIOLENCE
DEPARTMENT: African Institute of South Africa (AISA)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 11338
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/15287
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/15287
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
The upswing in acts of violent extremism in Africa has added to the many peace and security challenges facing the continent. The rise in violent extremism has been particularly pronounced in the Sahel region. Military intervention has constituted a key component of a number of security responses to conflicts in the Sahel. These interventions have substantively increased the presence of foreign forces on the African continent. Although these forces undoubtedly assist in augmenting the capacity of states in the Sahel to provide security, they also generate other challenges, such as: competing agendas; dependence; buttressing fragile states; and increased militarisation. This article provides context on the rise in violent extremism and militarisation in the Sahel, and highlights the complexity and multiplicity of actors and challenges. It contends that: development challenges in the largely fragile states of the Sahel have created the 'opportunity structure' for violent extremism to take root; that the overtly militarised responses have not been able to stem the tide of violent extremism; and that these militarised responses may also be fuelling it. Much more attention should be diverted to the lack of human security, as well as governance challenges. Moreover, the dominance of securitised responses, particularly that of militarisation, must be balanced with peacebuilding approaches that engage communities and violent extremists in dialogue or negotiations, respectively, and must produce transformed state-society relations.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Violent extremism and militarization in the Sahel region: challenges and prospects
- Managing African conflicts: the challenge of military intervention
- Africa insight: global cop USA seeks more presence in Africa
- Identity and violent conflict in Africa
- Peace education for violence prevention in fragile African societies: what's going to make a difference?
- Disrupting cycles of violence in Africa: unlocking complex dimensions of human security
- Editorial: In search of alternative approaches to conflict management in Africa
- Book review: Goetz, A.M., Hassim, S. (eds.) (2003). No shortcuts to power: African women in politics and policy making. Cape Town: Zed Books. 246 p. ISBN 1842771477
- Democracy in Africa: moving beyond a difficult legacy
- Book review: Legum, C. (2001) Africa since independence. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.105pp. & Abrahamsen, R. Disciplining democracy: development discourse and good governance in Africa. London: Zed Books. 168pp. & Salih, M. (2001) African democracies and African politics. London: Pluto Press. 234pp
- Fragments of democracy: nationalism, development and the state in Africa
- Behind the mask: getting to grips with crime and violence in South Africa
- Crime, violence and public health
- Kwazulu-Natal programme for survivors of violence
- Community responses to crime
- Developing a model for crime and injury prevention in South Africa
- Addressing the underlying causes of crime and violence in South Africa
- Soul city
- The parent centre
- Violence, sex, nudity and strong language in SABC TV broadcasts: TV viewers' reactions to control measures (Volume 2: Focus group report)