Islamist Militant Violence and Counterterrorism in West Africa: Evolution, Lessons Learned, and Potential Trajectory

This book examines the intricate dynamics of jihadism, terrorism, and counterterrorism in Africa, with a particular focus on the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin in West Africa.Grounded in empirical, statistical, and geospatial analyses, this volume explores the historical, ideological, and geopolitical roots of jihadist movements, focusing on African Islamist militant groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the conflict incidents involving Islamist militant movements on the continent, particularly from the aftermath of the Arab Spring (2012) to 2024, examining the mechanisms of their spread and the challenges that they pose to African nations and the international community. It also assesses the effectiveness of counterterrorism strategies employed thus far, highlighting the limitations of military responses and the need for more holistic and inclusive approaches that emphasize cooperation rather than competition between external actors and address key drivers of terrorism such as poverty, governance failures, and social inequalities.This book will be of much interest to students of terrorism studies, African politics, security studies, and international relations.

About the Author

Mathieu Bere is a research scholar, conflict analyst, and consultant based in the United States. He has a doctorate in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from George Mason University, USA. A former Fulbright fellow, he received the 2025 Senior Prize for Strategic Research from the Centre National d’Etudes Stratégiques (Burkina Faso) and has authored a book on terrorism in the Sahel in French and several articles in peer-reviewed journals.