(New York, N.Y.) – The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) invites you to a webinar on February 28 that will highlight the decade-long insurgency across the Sahel and the factors that have contributed to the resiliency of violent extremism across the region.
In the past ten years, the Sahel has seen a surge in terror attacks, transforming the region into a global epicenter of terrorism. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger face the greatest threats from terror organizations such as Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Islamic State Sahel Province (IS Sahel) and have yet to make significant progress in containing their insurgencies. Operating in adjacent regions and previously allies, JNIM and IS Sahel have also intensified their operations against one another, increasing the need for effective and sustainable counterterrorism responses from the governments of the Sahel.
Although national counterterrorism forces have been supplemented by external and local forces, Sahelian counterterrorism programs have yet to prioritize long-term stabilization goals. Accordingly, the three nations have not only increased cooperation with the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-backed quasi private military company (PMC) but have also incorporated civilian counterterrorism militias to varying degrees. However, the enlistment of these state-adjacent security forces has further increased the propensity for violence and the neglect for the rule of law of the security sector. This has intensified indiscriminate violence and enflamed ethnic tensions throughout the region. Unfortunately, the risks associated with these auxiliary defense forces have left civilians susceptible to recruitment by extremist groups that are skilled in exploiting public disillusionment with the state.
The webinar aims to outline and analyze the factors that contribute to instability across the Sahel and the long-term impact of counterterrorism practices across the region. The event will then conclude with a Q&A session open to all participants.
The webinar will be conducted in English via Zoom.
Date: February 28, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET / 15:00 – 16:30 CET
EVENT PROGRAM:
Presentation:
Riza Kumar
Research Analyst, Counter Extremism Project (CEP)
Discussants:
Anna Wasserfall
Policy Advisor for West Africa at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)
Delina Goxho
Associate Fellow at EGMONT - Royal Institute for International Relations
Moderator:
Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler
Senior Director, Counter Extremism Project (CEP)
REGISTRATION:
To participate in this webinar, please register via this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vb8OeJUzQV24psrHRQWB7w
Please register up to one hour before the webinar start so that your registration can be approved in time.
Please feel free to forward this invitation to colleagues with an interest in the subject.