Preventing the spread of violent extremism in Africa: An examination of al-Shabaab and Boko Haram and lessons for Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama in Mozambique

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article examines the growth, development, and spread of Boko Haram in West Africa and al-Shabaab in Eastern Africa with a view to drawing lessons to prevent the similar development of Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama (ASWJ) in Southern Africa. Recent developments of ASWJ in northern Mozambique send genuine fears among policymakers and scholars that unless tamed at this early stage, there is a high possibility that the group might spread and engulf large portions of Southern Africa with devastating consequences to peace security and development in Southern Africa. Evaluating the environment that allowed al-Shabaab and Boko Haram to evolve, grow, spread, and take root in Eastern and West Africa, respectively, this article argues that a similar environment exists in Southern Africa and that the fear of the ASWJ becoming a threat to regional security and development in the subregion is not far-fetched. It is therefore important to learn lessons from the two militant groups with a view to proposing viable ways to forestall the spread of ASWJ across Southern Africa.