ECOWAS Peace and Security Report

The report examines the vulnerability of Senegal to religious radicalism and terrorism, particularly in the context of the conflict in Mali. While the majority of Senegalese citizens and traditional Sufi brotherhoods are viewed as a shield against extremism, the study identifies a growing minority of youth and 'reformist' movements influenced by Salafism and Wahhabism. These groups often express anti-Western sentiments and hostility toward traditional brotherhoods. The report highlights the risk posed by a dual educational system and the 'Islamisation of political contestation,' recommending a multidisciplinary approach to security and a national dialogue on education to mitigate the risk of radicalisation.

• Senegal has experienced several security incidents involving suspected Jihadists, including the May 2010 arrest of three members of the Moroccan Islamic Youth Fighters at Dakar's airport and the July 2012 arrest of ten suspected terrorist network members in Dagana.
• While most Senegalese view Islam as a religion of peace and see Sufi brotherhoods as a protective shield, a minority—particularly urban youth—express support for Jihadist groups like MUJAO and Ansar al-Dine, viewing their actions as the application of Sharia.
• Pro-Jihadist ideology in Senegal is built upon three primary pillars: pan-Islamic solidarity, a deep anti-Western attitude, and hostility toward traditional Sufi brotherhoods, which are sometimes viewed as 'worshipping of men'.
• The report identifies a trend of 'Islamisation of political contestation,' where dissatisfaction with the state and the Francophone elite leads some toward a 'rationalised Islam' and pan-Islamism, making them targets for recruitment by international Jihadist movements like AQIM.
• The existence of a dual educational system—comprising official Francophone schools and private Arabic or Koranic schools (daaras)—is identified as a potential source of social divide and frustration that Islamist movements may exploit.
• The report notes the presence of specific radical actors, such as Imam Mamour Fall of the Islamic Party of Senegal, who has openly claimed links to Osama bin Laden and uses the internet to disseminate international Jihadist discourse.

APA

Sambe, B., & Ba, D. (2013). ECOWAS Peace and Security Report. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ECOWAS-Report-3-ENG.pdf

Chicago

Sambe, Bakary, and Djibril Ba. ECOWAS Peace and Security Report. Institute for Security Studies, 2013. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ECOWAS-Report-3-ENG.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sambe |first1=Bakary |last2=Ba |first2=Djibril |title=ECOWAS Peace and Security Report |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=May 2013 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ECOWAS-Report-3-ENG.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sambe2013ecowas, author = {Sambe, Bakary and Ba, Djibril}, title = {{ECOWAS Peace and Security Report}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2013}, month = may, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ECOWAS-Report-3-ENG.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }