MACMILLAN Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa: Fighting Insurgency from Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine and Boko Haram (New Security Challenges)

Traditional counter-terrorism approaches, with their emphasis on the military, are failing. This is seen in the fact that there is an average of three terrorist attacks per day in Africa. This study calls for more holistic solutions, with an emphasis on development and better governance to curb the scourge of terrorism. Review “Solomon sets outs to examine the causes of Islamist terrorism and the failures of counter-terrorism policy in Africa – focusing specifically on Al Shabaab in Somalia, Ansar Dine in Malia, and Boko Haram in Nigeria. … The book distinguishes itself from the critical terrorism literature by offering extensive policy prescription throughout the book. … the book’s valuable contribution is to map out how ethnicity and state–society relations shape the efficacy and limitations of military measures in Africa.” (African Affairs, Vol. 117 (466), January, 2018) “This timely, brief, but pricey comparative study of three contemporary cases investigates the roots of Islamist terrorism in Africa; its irruptions in Somalia, Mali and Nigeria; and the counterterrorism strategies of the African Union (AU) and the US. … Recommended for university libraries; collections supporting programs in international relations, security studies, Africa, and Islam; and larger public library systems. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.” (J. P. Smaldone, Choice, Vol. 53 (7), March, 2016) “Solomon accomplishes what he set out to do by laying out a useful theoretical framework for exploring the evolving nature of domestic terrorism and the challenges it poses to African governments and by providing critical assessments of AU and American counter-terrorism approaches along with concrete proposals for improving their effectiveness.” (Stephen A. Emerson, E-International Relations, e-ir.info, February, 2016) Review 'There are few scholars in the social sciences with the capacity to bring together complex theory and everyday observation in such fluent, readable and penetrating analyses of some of our most pressing global challenges. In this regard Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa is not only the best exemplar of solid and accessible scholarship on a troubling subject, but a critical contribution to helping national governments out of the conceptual and political quicksand of dealing with the elusive threats of a new brand of terror on African soil.' Professor Jonathan Jansen, Vice Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State, South Africa ''This volume expertly tackles the hereto complex, under-researched, over-theorized, policy-neglected, and misunderstood fields and relationships between Africa, Islam, Insurgency, Terror and Counter-Terrorism. Yet again, in throwing out the obsolete rulebook, Hussein Solomon is pioneering a roadmap that will transform your knowledge, awareness and thinking, and ignite change'' - Dr Glen Segell, Director of Studies (EF), University of Cambridge, UK "Hussein Solomon insightfully moves beyond epistemological questions of terrorism to examine the actual roots and manifestations of African terrorism and its implications for the future of continental, as well as global security. In doing so, he skilfully explores the interface between traditional counterterrorism approaches and critical terrorism studies to create a blended, more holistic counterterrorism roadmap for Africa." - Dr Stephen Emerson, former U.S. government political-military analyst and Security Studies Chair at National Defense University's Africa Center for Strategic Studies ''Hussein Solomon paints a nuanced, sophisticated portrait of the origins and motives of African terrorists that blends poverty, desertification, ethnic discrimination and African state corruption and neglect with 'historical amnesia' and cultural ignorance by western leaders. Dr Solomon's rich text provides much to learn and implement by UN and AU policymakers as well as by Af