Is all Jihad in Africa Local?

In a recent article, Hilary Matfess discusses why such assessments fundamentally misrepresent the nature of African jihadist militant groups. Using the Allied Democratic Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo and al-Sunnah wa Jamaah in Mozambique as case studies, Matfess contends that analyses that characterize local groups primarily as subsidiaries (or potential subsidiaries) of transnational jihadist groups, while overlooking the fluidity of group identities and their ties to local politics, distort understanding of the fundamental nature of these African groups. She also argues that such analysis has dangerous policy implications that enable ‘the kind of government abuses that have previously driven recruitment into armed groups.’ Thus, in understanding the operations and activities of African jihadist militant groups, Matfess prioritizes the role of domestic drivers of insurgencies, highlighting the detrimental effect of underdevelopment, youth unemployment, and government repression in creating a permissive environment for terrorist recruitment and activities.