A nation must think before it acts.
The Link Between Instability and Violent Extremism in West Africa
June 07, 2022 | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | Africa Program
About the Event
Islamist insurgents seek to spread their influence west on the African continent, taking advantage of weak governance and struggling security forces, as well as dire economic situations and climbing unemployment figures. The Islamic State's pivot toward Africa comes after years of declining prevalence in the Middle East and provides an opportunity for the group to regain legitimacy through its affiliates. Militant groups in Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso threaten West African regional stability. Is there a connection between the threat of a growing extremist presence in West Africa and the growing number of recent coups in the region? Africa Program Chair Charles Ray will be joined by Dr. Daniel Eizenga, Dr. Steven Radil, and Emily Estelle, to address this and other questions pertaining to political violence in the region.
FPRI is happy to provide this event free of charge thanks to the generous support of our members, partners, and event attendees. If you are not currently a member, the suggested donation is $25.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our events coordinator, Kayla Wendt at kwendt@fpri.org.
Speakers
Emily Estelle - Emily Estelle is a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the research manager of AEI’s Critical Threats Project, which provides open-source intelligence analysis on the Salafi-jihadi movement and Iran.
Daniel Eizenga - Dr. Daniel Eizenga is a Research Fellow at the African Center for Strategic Studies responsible for conducting policy-relevant research advancing understanding of pressing security challenges facing Africa.
Steven Radil - Dr. Steven Radil is a political geographer and an Assistant Professor of Geospatial Science at the U.S. Air Force Academy.
