Instability in Africa provides fertile ground for extremism

Al-Qaeda has spread fear and instability across Africa to promote extremism and impose its demands on local populations.

With its influence declining in traditional strongholds like Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, the group has shifted focus to Central and West Africa.

As al-Qaeda expands in the Sahel region, its violent attacks in Nigeria, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have drawn global concern.

Affiliates such as Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and al-Shabaab exploit weak governments, poverty, and illiteracy to strengthen their influence in the region.

Analysts say al-Qaeda sees Africa’s current instability as a major opportunity to turn the continent into a jihadist arena and act as a governing authority.

Fazlhaq Faizi, a political analyst in Herat, said that instability created by the group has turned some African countries into fertile ground for extremism.

"Al-Qaeda’s goal in promoting extremism and instability is to generate fear and chaos in Africa," he said. "This terrorist group relies heavily on violence and bloodshed and views this path as an opportunity to advance and recruit new members."

With the expansion of al-Qaeda’s activities in Sahel countries, he said, instability and economic crises in these nations have deepened.

Fear of stability and unity

Analysts emphasized that al-Qaeda’s affiliates fear unified and stable communities because they pose the greatest threat to their operations.

Khalil Ahmad Safa, a Herat university professor, said these groups target weak, divided, and illiterate communities to pursue its objectives deliberately.

"Awareness and unity among communities and nations are the greatest barriers to al-Qaeda’s activities," he argued. "Informed and united communities will never allow terrorist operations by Al-Qaeda or other extremist groups."

Al-Qaeda exploits illiteracy and poverty to create divisions among people, he explained.

"They [al-Qaeda and its affiliates] keep communities in poverty and helplessness so they can not resist. Undoubtedly, educated people will never align with terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and will fight against them."

Stable and united communities assist coalition forces and militaries in identifying and neutralizing al-Qaeda affiliates, Safa noted.

Communities against extremism

Muhammad Ehsan Erfani, a political analyst in Herat, said African communities have unique values that al-Qaeda attempts to destroy, replacing them with extremism and violence.

"Despite years of poverty and economic challenges, local communities have traditionally lived together peacefully," he told Salaam Times.

"However, al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist groups, through promoting extremism and violence, have disrupted this peace. Their actions have caused local communities to despise this terrorist group."

Erfani stated that tribal elders and religious scholars play a crucial role in countering violence by al-Qaeda affiliates and preventing youth recruitment.

They are recognized as strong barriers against al-Qaeda’s extremism and violence, he added.