Decentralised hierarchies of the “historic” jihadist groups facilitate alliances with African locals, who generally operate without direct military orders or transfers of cash, weapons or reinforcements. Instead, homegrown groups often pursue longstanding grievances against established powers, borrowing the ideological trappings of a war against “infidels”. For Tore Hamming, a researcher at the war studies department of King’s College London, the threat reflects two evolving trends. As a result, and despite warnings from some Western officials, analysts say African jihadists have little appetite for trying to orchestrate terror attacks in western Europe or North America. “They all have local agendas and I don’t see any of them being a leadership candidate,” he said.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 01, 2021 04:07 UTC