Click on the map for PDF
A review of violent events involving militant Islamist groups in Africa over the past year highlights several notable observations:
- There is considerable variation in the number and type of militant Islamist groups active on the continent.
- Most of these groups’ activities are geographically concentrated.
- There is a local focus for the majority of these actors, even if they have declared a nominal allegiance to a global terrorist network. ISIS and Al Qaeda central have a limited independent presence in Africa.
- Events involving Boko Haram claim the vast majority of fatalities, a figure that has risen significantly in recent years.
- There has been an escalation in the number and geographic reach of violent events linked to al Shabaab over the past 6 months.
This is an update of a map the Africa Center for Strategic Studies released in April 2016. It reflects events that occurred between November 2015 and October 2016.
More on: Countering Violent Extremism Al Shabaab AQIM Boko Haram Extremism Horn of Africa Islamic State Nigeria Sahel Tunisia