International records / OpenAlex research

Igniting Instability: Al Qaeda's Inroads into Africa

As a result of the West's continued presence in the Middle East, Qaeda has turned its focus to the occupation of a new front in its global jihad: Africa. With their presence threatened in what was once a safe haven, Qaeda leaders, cells, and attacks are moving to northern and eastern Africa. Once there, they can capitalize on social instability and latent extremism. This geographic shift is a threat not only to the security of African nations, but also to the West, which remains a target for Qaeda. In Somalia, the fundamentalist Council of Islamic Courts, which the United States alleges has ti…