Strategic Thinking on East Africa

New York Times Photo CreditIllustration by Melinda Josie One August afternoon last year, waiting in the polished lobby of the Maan-Soor Hotel in Hargeisa, Somaliland, I wondered if it wasn’t too late to cancel the appointment I had made. I had been returning to the city of my birth regularly for the past eight years, […]

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GILAD SHILOACH The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a terror attack in Somalia—its first-ever attack in the East African nation. In an official statement circulated by the group’s supporters on Twitter and Telegram, ISIS said its fighters detonated a car bomb targeting forces belonging to the African Union Forces—peacekeeping troops—on the outskirts of the capital […]

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From West Point’s Combatting Terrorism Center Author(s): Christopher Anzalone Abstract: In the face of major territorial, military, and economic setbacks, the Somali insurgent-jihadi group al-Shabaab has proven remarkably resilient thanks to pragmatic decision-making and skilled tactical maneuvering. With strong interpersonal ties and a capable internal security network, the group’s senior leadership continues to maintain overall […]

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Militant Groups Compete for Notoriety in East Africa By JEFFREY GETTLEMANAPRIL 12, 2016 Members of the Kenya Defense Forces carried the coffins of soldiers killed during an attack by the Shabab on a military base in western Somalia. CreditThomas Mukoya/Reuters NAIROBI, Kenya — Apparently there is no brotherly love among East Africa’s Islamist militants. This […]

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The Horn of Africa region is central to the world’s maritime trade. It’s also beginning to fall apart. BY ALEX DE WAAL Back in 2002, Meles Zenawi, then prime minister of Ethiopia, drafted a foreign policy and national security white paper for his country. Before finalizing it, he confided to me a “nightmare scenario” — […]

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From International Crisis Group By Magnus Taylor Leading Sudanese opposition figure Hassan al-Turabi gestures during an interview in Khartoum on 3 October 2012. REUTERS/Stringer Leading Sudanese opposition figure Hassan al-Turabi gestures during an interview in Khartoum on 3 October 2012. REUTERS/Stringer The death of Sheikh Hassan al-Turabi on Saturday marks the eclipse of a radical […]

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  Editors Jennifer G. Cooke and Richard Downie A Report of the CSIS Africa Program Introduction: The Intersection of Religion and Politics in Africa Jennifer G. Cooke Overview In the last decade, U.S. policymakers have been increasingly open to exploring religious issues at a broad policy level. There has been stronger emphasis on the role […]

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From African Arguments by Nathalie Arnold Koenings The ruling CCM party has a record of dismissing opposition in Zanzibar as “Islamist”. With tight elections on the horizon, this divisive rhetoric has been turned up. For over 20 years, Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has attempted to maintain control of the islands of Zanzibar by linking […]

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From The International Crisis Group By Rashid Abdi Many paths have been tried to counter the appeal of violent religious extremism in East Africa. In the Muslim community, traditional Sufism is being increasingly viewed as an important new way. But it should be followed with caution, since official embrace of just one religious custom can never […]

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AUTHOR: David Shinn, Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University Whatever the outcome of Turkey’s political deadlock, business and cultural connections are too deeply embedded to allow interest in Turkey’s Africa strategy to cease, writes David Shinn. The maiden commercial flight for Turkish Airlines into Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, 6 March 2012. Photo: Phil Moore/AFP/Getty Images. […]

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