Islamism and Its Enemies in the Horn of Africa

by de Waal, Alex

• ISBN13: 9780253216793
• ISBN10: 0253216796
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-30
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

Militant Islam is a powerful force in the Horn of Africa, and the U.S. war on terrorism has thrown the region and its politics into the international spotlight. Since the 1990s, when a failed U.S. military mission was called in to maintain order, Islamist organizations, with heavy sponsorship from Saudi Arabia, have multiplied and established much-needed health and education services in the region. However, despite the good that they are clearly providing, these organizations are labeled "terrorist" by the U.S. Islamist extremists have been found to be responsible for the deadly embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and the attack on an Israeli jet in Mombasa. Since September 11, 2001, global effort has been concentrated on bringing these groups to their knees. Focusing on how Islamist movements have been viewed post-9/11 and how the U.S. agenda is being translated into local struggles in the region, this book is an important step toward understanding the complex dynamics that enfold the region.Contributors are Roland Marchal, A. H. Abdel Salam, M. A. Mohamed Salih, and Alex de Waal.

Author Biography

Alex de Waal is a director of Justice Africa, a London-based organization that supports human rights, peace, and democracy in Africa. He is author of many books and articles, including Famine Crimes: Politics and the Disaster Relief Industry in Africa (IUP, 1997).

Table of Contents

Foreword	v
Glossary	ix
The Contributors	xii
1. Introduction
Alex de Waal	1	(20)
2. On the Failure and Persistence of Jihad
A.H. Abdel Salam and Alex de Waal	21	(50)
3. Islamism, State Power and Jihad in Sudan
Alex de Waal and A.H. Abdel Salam	71	(43)
4. Islamic Political Dynamics in the Somali Civil War
Roland Marchal	114	(32)
5. Islamic N.G.O.s in Africa: the Promise and Peril of Islamic Voluntarism
M.A. Mohamed Salih	146	(36)
6. The Politics of Destabilisation in the Horn, 1989-2001
Alex de Waal	182	(49)
7. Africa, Islamism and America's 'War on Terror' after September 11
Alex de Waal and A.H. Abdel Salam	231	(27)
Bibliography	258	(13)
Index	271