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THE CHALLENGE OF COMBATING TERRORISM: INFLUENCE OF

EXTERNALFACTORS ON HOME-GROWN TERRORISMIN AFRICA

Article · January 2015

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 THE CHALLENGE OF COMBATING TERRORISM: INFLUENCE OF
EXTERNALFACTORS ON HOME-GROWN TERRORISMIN AFRICA.

Abstract
Terror combat challenge terrorism spawns from the varying
conceptualization of terror, radicalization, civil liberty abuses,
weaknesses of terror-financing and sponsorship tracking,
shortfalls in terror combating expertise and technicalities. The
tremendousrise is instrumented by international sympathy
backlash, mobilization of resources to extremist reformers,
foreign policy backlash, marginalization of communities, and
implications of international human rights.Despite counterterror
efforts, Africa still need to address counter-terror leakages due to
the inefficienciesin internal democracies,and redress the adoption
of deep western cultures that infringe of existing African culture
and morals in order to cut the breeding of home grown terror.

1.0 Introduction
Terrorism is integral to many contemporary conflicts in form of a broader context of armed
violence; the introduction of new mechanisms of instilling fear on broader population other than
the victim creates the basis for the emergence of terrorism as a strategy which is usually used by
groups or States. Efforts to have been made in order to combat terrorism but there are a number
of challenges that imped those efforts. And thus this research investigates the challenge of
external factors on home-grown terrorism in Africa; specifically analyzing the challenge of
terrorism, the emergence of home-grown terror and effort of the Africa‟s counter-terrorism
architecture.

The study makes analysis through literary study by means of information acquired fromexisting
scholarlymaterials on terrorism and counter-terrorism.This research employsGame Theory–
explains how external factors, understood as control and intervention, enhances "human
insecurity" in the methodological chain from Middle East and North Africa down along the lines
of sub-Sahara Africa, and therefore endangers global security; –andRegime Theory–explains
how governments individually and collectively enjoin in economic and political cooperation to
counter-terrorism and ensure a secure global community(Richard 2005).The interconnectedness
of gametheory and regime theory will be shown in –that various actors plays escalation game of
a challenger in case of using terror as a means to change the status quo in order to create
favorable regime –and also counterterror responses played through de-escalation game to create
security regimes, economic cooperation regimes, financial and Anti Money Laundry (AML)
regimes. Also in terror situation regime of hostility of regime of concession is created in order to
counter terror (Little 2008).

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2.0 The Challenge of Combating Terrorism

2.1Conceptualization of terror
The definition of terrorism forms the base of a challenge which hinders analysis of terrorism and
makes the conceptualization of terrorism controversial (Gibbs 1989); there are many varying
definitions due to political reasons usually in form of propaganda –calling terrorist freedom
fighters or vis-vasa.(Weinberg et al 2004)

Domestic terrorism is terror acts by groups confined within national boundaries and targets are
exclusive to non-nationals. Also state-terrorism falls in this category in cases where state-actors –
military, police etc. resort to terror means against its own nationals. While in international or
transnational terrorism, terror acts by same or linked groups are perpetuated across more than
one national boundary, thus non-nationals are often inclusively targeted and selected nationals
are targeted because of their link with the non-nationals. Also state-sponsored-terror is inclusive
as seen during the cold war where sovereign state sponsored individuals and groups in terror
acts. (Julius 2013)

Transnational terrorism consist of the act of Africa‟s nationals involvement in transnational

terrorism on one hand, and influence of African nationals by internal or/and external factors
toengage in terror acts on African soil. The 1998 U.S embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania
and Israeli Hotel bombing in 2002 are examples that best illustrates the two components of
transnational terrorism.Terrorism considered a criminal act can also be described as a strategy
used by belligerents in an Asymmetric Warfare or in Fourth Generation Warfare to deliberately
target civilian and non-combatant. (Botha 2007)

However, according to the African Union (AU), terrorism is an act in violation of the
criminallaw of a state which may cause death or endanger lives and harm to the environment, all
intended to intimidate people, disrupt public services or create general insurrection in a state.The
AU further acknowledge the fact that the peoples struggle –including armed struggle carried out
in accordance with the principle of international law for the liberation from colonialism,
occupation, aggression and domination by foreign forces is not considered as terrorism.But
further states that Political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other motives
shall not be a justifiable defence against a terrorist act. (OAU 1999) The interpretation and
labelling by the media forms one of the arenas in which terrorism is conceptualized (Schmid
1988), and this gives media the power to influence the public‟s understanding of terrorism. The
public effect can either beStockholm syndrome –empathy and sympathy for the perpetrators; or
Mean world syndrome –views that the world is filled with violent people.

2.2Radicalization
Corruption, poverty, oppression, marginalization and religious extremism lead to radicalization
particularly among young people (Davis 2012) leading to terror flourishing in Africa due to
development problems (UN 2004). Those factors can also have a combined effect as seen in the
case of the Nigerian-Boko-haram and Somali-Alshababs, and usually awareness through
civilization and the use of media/internet have increased the spread of radicalism.
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Religious extremism which contributes to the greater terror percentage in Africa usually
emanates from the predominant religions i.e. Christianity -38% of Africa‟s population (Religious
Population 2015) and Islam -53% of Africa‟s population (Muslim Population 2015). These
religions are not of origin from Africa, and thus themisconception of their beliefs which leads to
radicalization can be attributed to external factor that contributes to terrorism i.e. purported
religious extremists like Boko-haram in West Africa, Anti-Balaka in Central Africa Republic,
and Al-Shabaab and Lord‟s Resistance Army –whichhave since been forced into hiding in East
Africa.

The prison meant to be a correctional facility can in turn be a radicalization zone as most
terrorist are in the same confinement with other criminals. Also in general, prison effect may
contribute to radicalization due to harsh and restricted activities (ICRS 2010).

2.3 Civil liberties

Terrorism implications on human rights is one of the challenges combating terrorism, and
violation of such rights are evident in Africa (HRW 2007, HRW 2008, HRW 2010) can lead to
increase in terrorism as the people whose rights are denied may seek to find justice through use
of terror as a strategy (Powell 1996). Likewise human rights activism can be viewed as a
rhetorical nonsense that encourages civil unrest, disobedience and resistance to laws and
revolution against the established government (Smith 2012). For example upholding freedom of
speech with undermines peace as seen in the case of CharlieHarbdoCartoon movement in Spain
that incited terror across the world. The non-distinctivenessof terrorism from other criminal
cases have also created a challenge, such cases of terror should be handled separately as it is a
sensitive issue that undermines security and peace.

2.4 Finance and sponsorship

The notion that the emergence of terrorism is not unconnected with transnational support can be
viewed as valid argument since local armed groups originally existing as insurgents finds it hard
to win regional or international recognition but attain such position once they secure finance
orsponsorship from external sources in form of funds from kidnapping, illegal transactions of
national resources with foreign nations (Oehme III2008), and foreign support they received with
the tag‘moderate rebels’as they are called by those supporting them–in form of systematic
regime change to take over power from the established government. Those supported groups
latertransform to terror groups gaining regional and global support and spread through splitter
groups and terror networks. For example the emergence of Al-Qaeda supported by the US to
counter the domino effect of the communist Russia resulted in establishment of global
recognition of Al-Shabaab which is believed to have allegiance with Al-Qaeda. Africa does not
manufacture weapon sophisticated to those used by the rebel, but the weaponization of the
middle-east created the flow-chain of such arms to slip into the hands of rebel groups in the
North African region and further down the sub-Saharan region (FATF 2013). Example is the
case of Libya as shown in figure 1.

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Figure 1 Impact of US Facilitated Terror in Libya

Source: Socio-Economics History Blog (2013)

Weak anti-terror finance combat have also contributed to the spread of terror in African region –
classical example is the African leaders and official supporting terror groups for strategic
interest, for example Nigerian leaders in the case of Boko-haram (FATF 2013), and more often
the Anti-terrorFinance and Money Laundering (AML) regimes are inefficient to track secret or
covert terror sponsorship. For example, U.S sponsorship of rebels in Syria aided the finance and
stability of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) which controls part of Iraq and Syria (Global
Research 2015) –a group which Boko-haram pledged allegiance to i.e. literally receive orders
form and/or carry out attacks with the mandates of ISIS.

2.5 Expertise/technicalities
Despite the effort by African States in combating terror, there are still deficiencies in the area of
intelligence, for instance most of intelligence information (intel)are received from foreign intel
(RFI 2015, Washington Post2015) about impending attack and in most cases such intel are
generalized and thus makes it a difficult task to identify specifically the area of potential attack
(Al Jazeera America 2015). Among other challenges are weaknesses in institutionalized terror
related curricular not only in tertiary institutions but also at secondary/high school and primary
4
levels. Defensive and war counterterrorism machinery have hindered fight against terror –
particularly in the case of Nigeria where the military lacks proper equipment due to corruption
(FATF 2013) –also in cases where terror groups engage in cyber warfare and the State lacks the
capacity to shut down the terrorist internet access. For example in the Westgate attack where the
terrorist resulted into using twitter to play games with the public while the attack was still going
on, and same applies to the Boko-haram that record videos in the forest and post them on the
internet.

3.0 Home-Grown Terror from External Factors

Home-grown terror is defined as acts of violence against targets primarily, by terrorist, in
theterrorist country of upbringing or origin. The purpose of such terrorism is to advance
political, ideological or religious objectives.

From the literature in the previous section external factors that result to the emergence of home-
grown terror can be drawn from international sympathy/empathy to reformers; mobilization
ofreformers; effects of foreign policies of non-African nation on African States; denial of
integration of integrating communities; and override of freedom.

3.1 International sympathy to reformers

Reformers win support transnationally, and accept and recruits volunteers whom in most cases
later return back to their home country to challenge the status quo with new views and ideology.
For example, after the fall of Gadaffi supported by the West in 2011,Sahel and Sahara region
witnessed strong buildups of terrorists like Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Ansar
Dine in 2012. (McColl 2015, Aronson 2013)

3.2 Mobilization of resources to reformers

This have created backlash particularly in case where moderate rebels once supported by the
West transforms into terror group that further establish networks across the globe –Africa
inclusive. Such support includes tactical supports and equipment.

3.3 Impact of foreign policy on Africa

The West is faced with diminishing hegemon and it increasingly relies on proxy tactics to
enforce its will in the name of „terrorism‟ which most part of the world have greatly embraced
with little analytical problem of its conceptions –how it is defined, causes –how it is generated,
consequences and challenge –effects it leaves behind.This dates back to the era of colonialism
where African liberation fighters emerged and were labeled terrorist by the imperialist –in this
context, colonialism as external factor lead to the emergence of the so called terrorist.

3.4 Denial of integrating communities

The lack of integration of the of the Palestinian community in Israel have been seen to grow
5
international support for the Palestinian state through terror attacks on foreign entities within
Africa as experienced in the first solidarity attack of Norfork and US embassy on Kenyan soiland
US embassy in Tanzania. (Aronson 2013)This is not exclusive to the case of Charlie Habdo
where it influenced series violence across the Muslim populated African states.

3.5 Issues of ‘human rights tag’ freedom

The effects from freedom of choice by right through westernization have created clash of
civilization and religion/ culture, thus creating loss of decency as viewed by religious/cultural
extremist and creating an avenue for radicals to go to any length to protect views/ideas/cultures
they think should be non-derogable.

4.0 Africa Counter-Terrorism Architecture

In response to terror Africa have instituted several measures to combat terror under the
framework of the AU empowering research on terrorism, mandate on the Regional Economic
Communities (REC) like Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) and
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) –through its IGAD Capacity
BuildingProgram against Terrorism (ICPAT), launched in 2006, to develop programs aimed at
countering terrorism through capacity-building of its member States to resist terrorism, and
promoting regional security cooperation; Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Style
RegionalBodies (FSRBs) –to assisttheir members to implement international anti-money
laundering andanti-terrorist financing standards and recommendation. (Botha 2007)The AU has
also engaged inpartnerships with the UN, US and EU in effort to combat terrorism.

5.0 Conclusion
The internationalization/globalization of Religion, media and culture are not boundary bond; and
the championing of certain country‟s strategic interest –e.g. proxy interests in war on terror
plays role in emergence of terror in Africa through the selected use ofweaponization which
spread through the terror networks, and psychological warfare though the strategic use of media
and conceptualization of terms of terror (Botha 2007)–information, disinformation, manipulation
of thepressand propaganda, thus directly or indirectly leading to terrorism influenced–internally
bydraconian rule, failed/weak state, nationalist or separatist movements, marginalization,
religion, poverty and corruption. (FATF) This recommends effective tracking of covert or proxy
financial supports to terror groups by foreign and national entities, strict implementation of
immigration laws to curb transnational migration of individuals who upon return to home
country strategies for home initiated terror attacks, instituted measures to reduce poverty and
corruption which breeds terrorism and also enhance technicalities and expertise involved in
countering terror by institutionalizing terror related curricula in all levels of the education stages
and further enhancing the capacities of intelligence units inorder to reduce over reliance on
foreign intelligence and to develop specification of intel on impending attacks.

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