Counter Terrorism in Trans-Saharan Africa

The tragic events of terrorism in Trans-Saharan Africa necessitate the need for change on terrorism perception. Terrorist activities continue to be a significant challenge to many ruling governments in Africa and especially in Trans-Saharan Africa. Terrorism activities have always resulted in the loss of many lives and considerable destruction of physical property. African governments often come up with counterterrorism policy responses. These responses, however, fail to consider how religion and rational choice contribute to terrorist activities. It is, therefore, essential for this part of Africa to acquire more assistance in counterterrorism activities.

There are various descriptions of why terrorist attacks occur, and some associate it to poor financial conditions. This is very common in Trans-Saharan Africa, where the majority of people are deprived of their essential needs such as food, shelter, and education attainment.  As a result, there is a prevalence of poverty among the people, which creates a sense of hopelessness (Warne 66). This leaves the people with little or no choice but joining radical groups with a promise of a better future. Such situations raise the need for increased efforts by governments in collaboration with the international community and non-governmental organizations to provide cheap and affordable education to all people despite their social status. Such an effort would substantially change the lives of many as educated people would acquire employment while others would indulge in businesses, thus reducing the rate of poverty, which is a contributing factor to increased terrorist activities.

There exist religious organizations such as Al-Shabaab and other radical groups in Trans-Saharan Africa. These organizations use deadly suicide approaches as a terrorism strategy. The benefit accrued by members of these groups are at times non-monetary in nature, and these individuals display strange behaviors and are contented to die for their cause in some situations (Dmochowski 26). Social injustices such as land grabbing by those in the higher power and embezzling of public funds contribute to people joining such religious organizations to seek justice. Additional efforts are therefore needed through bringing all the stakeholders together ranging from the international community, religious groups, local governments, and non-governmental organizations to fight with these social evils. Through joining hands, laws prosecuting those found guilty will be introduced, thus hindering potential corrupt individuals from committing more crimes. Additionally, people will be educated on better ways of dealing with social evils other than joining illegal groups to seek justice.

Terrorism in Trans-Saharan Africa is also attributed to self-interest, which raises the need for increased efforts to counter it. Self-interest approach is associated with choices and primarily when all options are controlled by possessions (Shurkin, Pezard, and Zimmerman 77). Terrorist groups in this part of the continent promise a better future to the native communities and especially those who are educated compared to the ruling governments making the situation very dangerous. These groups lure the learned into joining them, putting into consideration that high education is a sign of commitment. The educated end up carrying out attacks with more sophistication due to the high income offered, leading to massive loss of lives and destruction of property. Counter-terrorism efforts such as investing in human capital will help reduce terrorism. Learned people should experience the value of what they learned in school through acquiring good jobs and earning good money. This will deny the terrorist groups which operate through maximizing on cost-benefit analysis a chance to recruit the learned.

In conclusion, there is dire need of increasing efforts to counter terrorism in Trans- Saharan Africa. Terrorism activities have led to massive destruction of life and property, thus dragging economies behind. Attempts to deal with social injustices such as corruption and land grabbing should be strengthened to eradicate corruption ones and for all.

Works Cited

Shurkin, Michael, Stephanie Pezard, and S Rebecca Zimmerman. “improving counter terrorism capablities.” Rand Corporation (2017): 1-143.

Warne, Lesley Anne. “The Trans Sahara Counter Terrorism Partnership.” Center for Stability and Development (2014): 1-104.

Dmochowski, Captain N.P. “Counter-Terrorism Efforts in Pan-Saharan Africa.” EWS (2009): 1-75.

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Counter Terrorism in Trans-Saharan Africa

Topic: Counter terrorism efforts inAfrica

Academic Level : Undergraduate

Paper details
Position Paper
Communication is used to inform, to persuade and to analyze. In this assignment, you
will persuade the reader of your point of view by supporting a thesis with objective facts
and credible evidence.
In the week 2 forum, you selected your topic for this paper. You will take a stance on this
issue and support your stance with credible evidence in your body paragraphs. In the
week 4 forum you created an outline for this paper. Be sure to make use of the feedback
you received there.
In order to persuade the audience to accept the position you are advocating in this
paper, you will use different kinds of appeals: ethos (which involves the credibility of the
speaker, writer, or authority being cited); logos (which involves facts, statistics, and
logic); and pathos (which involves emotions). A good persuasive argument uses
credible sources, objective evidence, and emotional “hooks” to make use of logos,
ethos, and pathos respectively.

Be sure your thesis statement is very clear. It should be a single complete sentence,
including both a subject and a predicate, that combine to make claim. Example: “The
USA should be more competitive in establishing a presence on Mars.”
Your introduction paragraph should include a “hook” to grab the reader’s attention. The
thesis statement is typically seen in the first paragraph. Your body paragraphs will
support the thesis. You should use credible sources and cite them according to the style
of your discipline. Your conclusion should reiterate the strongest points from your paper
and give the audience something to consider, moving forward.
PURPOSE: To persuade
AUDIENCE: A general audience, peers in the classroom
LENGTH: 500 – 750 words (Times New Roman font)
SOURCES: A minimum of 3 with at least 1 from the library, and at least 1 from a
professional journal or organization
Here is what i have as an outline, please try to go off of this:
Thesis Statement: Counter terrorism efforts within Africa have helped contain terrorist
threats in the countries of the continent.

Topic 2: Trans-Saharan Africa needs the most assistance with counter terrorism efforts
This region stretches from Africa’s east coast in Somalia to its west coast in Senegal.
Most of these countries face broad social and economic problems such as famine and
unemployment
Manny of these countries face social and economic problems such as famine and
unemployment, making it an easier target for religious extremism and terrorist groups.
Most of the countries in this region have weak central governments that function only in
the capital These centralized governments have little to no control over their borders
which creates a power vacuum
Topic 3: Each country must be assisted in a new different way due to the diverse culture.
A blanket policy will not be effective.
Trans-Saharan Africa is a diverse region in Africa. Tribes, local religions, families, and
nationalities that make governing in these countries more difficult with one set policy.

The diversity means that each country must be planned for individually for counter-
terrorism efforts to be successful.

Here is the required source of info from the school library:
Counter-Terrorism Efforts in Pan-Saharan Africa EWS Contemporary Issue Paper
Submitted by Captain N. P. Dmochowski To Major A. Irvin, CG 7 20 February 2009