Militancy and Violence in West Africa by James Gow Funmi Olonisakin Ernst Dijxhoorn

Author:James Gow, Funmi Olonisakin, Ernst Dijxhoorn [James Gow, Funmi Olonisakin, Ernst Dijxhoorn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nonfiction, History, Africa, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
ISBN: 9781135968571
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2013-07-18T04:00:00+00:00

Nature of Islamic radicalisation

The nature of Islamic radicalisation in Liberia is a bit difficult to contextualise because it came just about the same time that the country was also undergoing significant changes that reduced the importance of this change in the country. Indeed, the whole process of Islamic radicalisation was left largely unconsidered for quite a long time because the country was dealing with one of Africa’s most bitter civil conflicts. Indeed, as will be discussed later, religious differences were to be crucial in understanding aspects of the civil war.

But Islamic radicalisation in Liberia, as indeed in a number of West African countries, is also coloured by key issues like ethnicity, politics and even natural resource politics. The vicissitudes of colonial division added to the ethnic dimension of Islam and politics in Liberia, especially in relations of ethnicity with conflict, with other countries in the region sharing ethnic affinities with Liberians sometimes becoming crucial actors in the country’s affairs and in the violence that was to engulf all aspects of its life. In specific relation to Islamic radicalisation in Liberia, it is also important to point out that there have been certain issues generated by the war years that continue to create the basis for future radicalisation of the Muslims in the country. Although still restricted to limited sections of the country, such issues can trigger nationwide Islamic unrest if left unattended.

The first form of Islamic radicalisation in Liberia came as a reaction of Muslims to their marginalisation in the political affairs of the country. There were criticisms that they were being marginalised by successive governments. While Muslims in Liberia tolerated, even if with reluctance, the second-fiddle role they played during the period of Americo-Liberian rule, they were particularly unhappy about the way they were treated during the civil war by forces of the NPFL, which targeted them because of their perceived support of Samuel Doe during his decade of rule in Liberia. Although Doe was a Christian, the Muslim population enjoyed some form of sympathy from him. He appointed some of them to high political positions and enjoyed their support.

One of the earliest bases of Islamic radicalisation in Liberia was the University of Liberia. In what may be considered as providing the intellectual basis of Islamic radicalisation, academics in the university started writing articles pointing out the ‘inroads’ being made by the Islamic religion. For example, Dr Brahima D. Kaba wrote in a report to Muslim leaders that Muslims in Liberia made up ‘35% of all individuals who are religious’ in Liberia but that the adherents of the religion were under-represented in government and in higher educational institutions.27 Other scholars of Islamic religious persuasion were to follow this line of argument.

Also important in understanding the roots of Islamic radicalisation was the extent of external support that came during the late 1980s from Islamic countries and the publicity that was given to such assistance. Scholarships were given to Muslims to study in Islamic countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

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