Violent extremism in Africa caused 33,300 fatalities between
2011 and 2016, reversing hard-won development gains and threatening to stunt
prospects for decades to come. Yet, far less is known about the causes,
consequences and trajectories informing violent extremism.
On 17 January, the UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States will
host a presentation of the report “Journey to Extremism in Africa”, which
generates improved understanding about the incentives and drivers of violent
extremism, as expressed by recruits to the continent’s deadliest groups
themselves. The research is part of the UNDP Africa Prevention of Violent
Extremism (PVE) project and, given its coverage of some Arab countries
(Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia and Morocco), is jointly implemented with the
UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States.
The report is based on a questionnaire exploring the life
histories and personal perspectives on a range of personal, cultural,
socio-economic and political issues administered to a sample of more than 700
individuals. These include former recruits from violent extremist groups such
as Al-Qaida, ISIL, Boko Haram and Al Shabaab.