Islamist Terrorist Organizations in Africa: A Comparative Study of Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram
Abstract
Terrorist activities have eroded the stability, development, and security of a growing number of African states. The objective of this thesis is to better understand the terrorist groups Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab based on their strengths and weaknesses, and to identify their vulnerabilities in order to deduce their resilience to counterterrorism measures. The study also aims to shed light on the applied countermeasures. For this purpose, comparative case studies of two terrorist groups in Africa are presented, based on the available unclassified literature. The thesis adopts a qualitative approach to examine key elements of their organizational structures, ideologies, activities, and methods of recruitment and funding. In addition, the current counterterrorism efforts used on the African continent and their effectiveness are assessed. The thesis identifies the exploitable vulnerabilities of the terrorist organizations as well as the ways in which they adapt in response to existing counterterrorism measures. Furthermore, it considers the relationship between centralized vs. decentralized organizational structures in the groups resilience to countermeasures. Based on the findings, it is clear that purely military approaches do not bring lasting solutions and need to be at least complemented by holistic measures. As such, the study is aimed at involved counterterrorism entities, the military, and scholars to improve the effectiveness of counterterrorism policies and measures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1184848
Entities
People
- Holger L Eichhorn
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School