Abstract
In Africa, radical and extremist Muslims are striving to transform society through violent change, claiming that African rulers are dictatorial and anti-Islamic; as a result, many African countries are experiencing serious human rights violations and abuses. Therefore, this paper examined radical Islamism and its trajectories of human rights violations and abuses in Africa and proffered workable solutions to the dilemma. To achieve the above aim, the paper employed historical and evaluative methods. The historical method was used to critically review the scholarly literature on radical Islamism and its human rights violations and abuses antecedents in Africa. At the evaluative level, the paper critically discussed the impact of human rights violations and abuses on the African nations and their citizens. The paper revealed that radical Islamism in Africa is driven by bad political leadership, poverty, poor education, unemployment, and religious exclusivism among others. The paper concluded that good governance, economic enhancement, and religious inclusiveness are key tools in discouraging and curbing radical Islamists in African countries.
Highlights
In the early XXI century, Islam remains a major presence and political force throughout the world including Africa
Boko Haram operating in some Nigerian northern states “seeks to realize the Usman dan Fodio manifesto, namely, to deep the Quran in the Atlantic, and to effect a radical turnaround of what is considered by sect members as a weak or limping Islam and bring it up to a real Maliki version that would be faithful to the Prophet‟s intention to Islamize the world” (Oraegbunam 2016, 29)
Considered today, as a by-product of a conspiracy rooted in Judeo-Christian activism, radical Islamism features in the guise of radical Islamic movements operating with the understanding that Islam and the Western nations using the tool of colonialism are engaged in a battle of “inferiority complex” which stretches back to the formative years of Islam (Tibi 1998, 133)
Summary
In the early XXI century, Islam remains a major presence and political force throughout the world including Africa. While some Muslims wish to pursue a more secular path, others call for a more visible and radical role of religion in public life. For this reason, most Islamic activists and movements function and participate within society to bring about change while a few minorities are radical extremists who attempt to destabilize or overthrow governments and commit. Findings and experience have revealed that human rights violations and abuses constitute the major effects of the radicalization of Islam in Africa. This research synthesized scholarly literature on radical Islamism and examined its violations and abuses of human rights in Africa. The paper argued for the „spirit‟ of inclusivism among stakeholders and called on African governments to curb the problem through dialogue, economic enhancement, and good governance
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