Interregional challenges of Islamic extremist movements in North Africa

The document analyzes the emergence of political Islam and extremist movements in North Africa, arguing that poverty, unemployment, and political exclusion drive youth toward extreme ideologies. It examines various movements, from the Muslim Brotherhood's transnational networks to the violent activities of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG). The text highlights how North African states have used 'triangulation'—playing different Islamist factions against each other—to maintain stability, while also noting the role of transnational 'ummah' identities in blurring national borders.

• Extremist tendencies in North Africa are driven by a combination of socio-economic factors, including poverty, unemployment, and the denial of political participation, which particularly affect the youth.
• Islamist political organizations in North Africa have evolved from national liberation movements into transnational networks based on the concept of the Muslim ummah, effectively blurring traditional geopolitics.
• In Morocco, the monarchy maintains control over the religious field by positioning the King as the 'Commander of the Faithful' and promoting a specific, tolerant Maliki rite to counter 'foreign' (Wahhabi) influences.
• The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has survived for over 80 years due to its organizational flexibility and its ability to adapt its discourse on democracy based on political realities.
• Women in Islamist movements, particularly in the Muslim Brotherhood, are increasingly active in street politics and cyber-activism, though they remain largely excluded from top leadership positions.
• Sudanese Islamism under Hassan al-Turabi attempted to dismantle the colonial nation-state model in favor of a more inclusive, popular democracy based on shura, but was eventually ousted by the more pragmatic, military-led faction under Omar al-Bashir.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2011). Interregional challenges of Islamic extremist movements in North Africa. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono180.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Interregional challenges of Islamic extremist movements in North Africa. 2011. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono180.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Interregional challenges of Islamic extremist movements in North Africa |date=2011 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono180.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2011interregional, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Interregional challenges of Islamic extremist movements in North Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2011}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono180.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }