The EU and terrorism in Africa

Abstract

Islamist militant organizations such as Al-Qaeda have discovered ungoverned spaces in Africa as a fertile territory for their disastrous agenda. While that does not necessarily represent a major threat in military terms, the radicalization of populations together with human rights violations underline the potential for a continental and even global escalation. Adequately addressing the full spectrum of this emerging threat to Africa’s and Europe’s security requires not only enhanced cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the African Union. It also necessitates the involvement of the United Nations, the Regional Economic Communities, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This paper will explore the EU’s role in combating terrorism in North Africa and the Sahel. Furthermore, this article will highlight the importance of enhanced cooperation between all the above-mentioned actors to address the emerging threat posed by terrorism in Africa, as well as the potential role played by the EU in facilitating such cooperation.

Keywords:

• European Union
• African Union
• terrorism
• Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
• North Africa
• Sahel

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Conrad Rein

Conrad Rein holds a PhD in Government from University College Cork and received both his BA and MA in African Studies from Leipzig University. Dr. Rein has previously worked for the United Nations, the Hudson Institute, and the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies.