Fighting the Rise of Radical Islam in Mali

African leaders meeting at an emergency summit yesterday

One issue facing Africa, and potentially the world as whole, which does not seem to get a ton of attention is the rise of radical jihadist in the continent, particularly in northeast Africa. The widespread political unrest and lawlessness of much of the continent make for ideal staging grounds for these Islamist radicals while all the poverty and poor quality of living and the relatively high proportion of Muslims already on the continent (52%) helps their recruiting efforts. They are further aided by the fact that much of the foreign effort to curb extremism is centered in the Middle East. 

Yesterday, a coalition of 15 West African countries known as ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)  agreed to send 3,300 troops into Mali, the northern portion of which (an area roughly the size of France) is now controlled by various Jihadist groups, some with links to al-Qaeda, following a coup this past spring. The radicals did not directly play a role in the coup but nonetheless used it to seize some power. All together about two thirds of Mali, once a beacon of stability and democracy, is under the control of these radical rebel groups. As we’ve seen through other countries, coup d’états can be a good thing, but often they just lead to chaos and can undermine the democracy, freedom, prosperity, and security of a country and even its neighbors.

This plan for intervention spawned from an emergency summit in Nigeria  that was aimed at addressing extremism in the region. The plan developed by this coalition will eventually be brought before the African Union and the UN Security Council for approval. The UN, also concerned about the happenings in Mali, had previously tasked leaders with developing a plan to retake the occupied territory. These armed forces, mainly coming from Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, are expected to be deployed in the next couple of months and will presumably team with Malian soldiers to battle the rebels. Cooperation from the unoccupied areas of Mali however has proved to be difficult as the country is still somewhat unstable and disorganized as a result of the military coup and jihadist takeover in the North.

The decision to intervene seems to be a wise and proactive course for these countries to take. Ignoring the problem would only make things worse as it would allow the rebels to become more powerful and to expand their influence and organization. The area is already considered a terrorist sanctuary and safe haven and that would only spread, not only posing a threat to Africa but to the world as a whole. A soft approach could also set a bad precedent for the future that would only empower radical groups and could encourage an increase in these unlawful and forceful coups. While I agree with the decision for military intervention, as I suspect they are doing, I would hope that an attempt is being made to resolve this conflict through more diplomatic means as well such as economic sanctions or direct dialogue with the rebels. As with any situation, force should be a last resort. I also think the amount of troops that have been pledged to address the problem seems awfully small, especially given the number of countries involved in the operation. I understand reluctance to put more people in harms way but if the amount of force is not strong enough then it would be even more dangerous for the troops that are being deployed. You certainly do not want this turning into a full fledged war but still this approach seems like somewhat of a half-measure. 

Militant islamists in northern Mali

While I’m all for a foreign policy that allows other regions to handle their own business, I’m also surprised that, given our interest in curbing Islamic extremism and our reputation as championing human rights, the western world has not taken a more active role with this situation. Thus far, the US has cut off some foreign aid to Mali and has used some diplomatic pressure to push for an invasion while France has been very outspoken regarding the threat but has pledged to help only through intelligence efforts. Perhaps this is a calculated effort by these countries as they would obviously prefer to have others take care of the dirty work plus military conflict can be very unpopular both at home and abroad.

These jihadist groups are an issue not only because of their extreme beliefs and the danger they pose but also simply based on the simple fact that their no good at governing. While perhaps the same criticism could be levied at much of the continent, as shown by the happenings in northern Mali as well as other past extremist strongholds such as Somalia, Islamist controlled areas are particularly rife with a lack of freedom, violence, lawlessness, and poverty. In northern Mali the economy has sharply declined and a strict form of Sharia Law has been implemented. Women must completely cover their bodies and faces, alcohol, music, and various forms of technology have been banned, non-Muslims are persecuted against, and people are whipped, stoned, or have limbs hacked off for petty crimes or violations of this Islamic rule. According to the UN, roughly 500,000 people, about 5% of the countries population, have either fled or been turned into refugees as a result of the occupation.

It will be interesting to see how the situation in Mali progresses over the next couple of months and how, if it all, the approach for dealing with the threat of both African and foreign countries evolves. Ideally, forceful intervention will not be necessary but assuming it is hopefully the conquest is successful and the threat posed by these radical jihadists is neutralized and stability, freedom, and some measure of prosperity is returned to this region.

Sources Used:

Boswel, Allen. November 12 2012. “Mali’s Looming War: Will Military Intervention Drive Out the Islamists?” Time World. Web. November 13 2012.                                                                                                                                      http://world.time.com/2012/11/12/malis-looming-war-will-military-intervention-drive-out-the-islamists/                                                       

Associated Press. November 12 2012. “West African bloc agrees on N. Mali troops.” CBS News. Web. November 13 2012.                                                                                                                                       http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57548198/west-african-bloc-agrees-on-n-mali-troops/