Period 5
Ms. Bennett
World Literature Honors
ISIL in Africa
Religious beheading are meeting up with ruthless violence in North Africa. As ISIL,referred to as ISIS or the Islamic States of Iraq and Levant, continues down through Egypt to the western coast of Africa as its violence spreads through the land as the unstable states in Northern Africa ramp up military trainings and activities to try and counter this new advancement . With the news that Boko Haram, has pledged its allegiance to ISIL this past Sunday, the spread of ISIL is reaching down through the Sinai Peninsula. This spread is due to the fact that Boko Haram and other jihadist military groups have pledged their allegiance to ISIL in the past few months (Tomlinson). The pledge of allegiance to ISIL means that if ISIL were to go down through Africa, it would garner support from local militant groups along the way The spread of ISIL into Africa is not unanticipated. For years, European nations and the United States have been training in North Africa for the protection of their west backed governments from coups and revolts against the leadership. But the instability in the region is what lures ISIL into Africa with its weak states that need the western backing that is soon pulling out of the region. In Egypt and Libya the unstable climate is the perfect chance for ISIL to come in and take over the land thanks to the recent changes in leadership in these two countries in the past few years (Taylor).
However the western backing for the counties in the region may make them a prime target for the jihadist organization in the region. The tensions caused by the US during the Gulf War may have made the young people in the area aggravated against the west. ISIL could be pushing the angle that the west causes all the suffering in Africa, hence gaining support in the young generation who are seeing first hand the after effects of the US backed coalitions. (Nisman). Hatred to the west has been a main motive for the people in the affected regions. US involvement in training the local militaries of certain African States could as well cause the people to think that the US is just there to get oil or other luxury resources (Schmitt). ISIL is moving down to Africa because it sees the opportunities it has there with the unstable climate and the people angered at the west. With its promises of strong stable rule and a hatred of the west to match, ISIL is marching across Africa to gain more support.
Works Cited
"Egypt Hits ISIS in Libya with Airstrikes." The Daily Star [Beirut, Lebanon] 17 Feb. 2015: n. pag. Global Issues In Context. Web. 6 Mar. 2015. The middle east is turning against the invasion of ISIS. Shows how the idea of fighting Isis surpasses borders
Nisman, Daniel. "ISIS Cancer Spreading to North Africa." Nypost.com. N.p., 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 08 Mar. 2015. ISIS is moving into Africa since it sees the great opportunity it has there with the weak governments in Libya and Egypt. ISIS is looking to expand their territory through the sinai peninsula
Schmitt, Eric. "African Training Exercise Turns Urgent as Threats Grow." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Mar. 2015. Web. 08 Mar. 2015. The west is scrambling to act in the face of the looming danger that is ISIL. The west can not deal with threat of ISIL and so is trying to prolong the fight and build up the military in Africa. Angers the local population at the same time since it means that america is in Africa for a longer period of time
Taylor, Guy. "Islamic State Spreading into Northern Africa, Alarming U.S." Washington Times. The Washington Times, 7 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. Very relevant information about the spread of ISIL into north africa. Shows the wests intentions in north africa and their interests
I did Boko Haram too, and learned a lot more from your article! lol
ReplyDeleteYou have a really clever explanation of their motives!:) Also, you tie in the explanation of how Boko Haram's viewpoints affect the perspective of other Islamic Africans.
ISIL is getting more powerful on the African continent because of (1) local Islamist groups are pledging allegiance to ISIL and (2) anti-western sentiment is on the rise.
ReplyDeleteMost of the news I've seen says that ISIL isn't actively looking to undermine the US right now. It may be an underlying motive, but their actions in the Middle East are mostly directed towards establishing their idealized caliphate.
How much hard power does ISIL have in Africa?
*Question
ReplyDeleteI have read an article where its stated that Boko Haram has foreign supplies supporting them. Do you think there is more than just this group? A lot more greater opposition to the western way?
I really liked how your article was very information-packed and helped get your point across well. This helps shed new light on the problems with ISIS in the Middle East we hear so much about. How specifically does ISIL recruit members? What demographic do they aim for?
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting because it ties in with issues that are relevant in our media here at home. ISIS is obviously a growing issue, and I learned a lot from your article. What would you say would be the best solution to this issue?
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that a country receiving aid from the West actually becomes a larger target for jihadist groups because they detest countries like the United States. I wonder if the African governments along with the West will be able to stop the advancing militant groups.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to learn more information about this current issue. I thought that your introduction was really good because you gave a good opening to the subject so that the reader understood the issue. It is really sad to think about this kind of terrorism happening around the world, including the U.S. What makes people want to be part of this?
ReplyDeleteI found that you had really effective commentary on each of your paragraphs, and you embedded quotes well. This connects to the United States because, well the United States has been combatting Boko Haram actively ever since the kidnapping of the 276 girls, and now that they have pledged to ISIL, it's leading to a lot of questions about what this move will mean for the rest of the world. My question is, What made Boko Haram pledge to ISIL?
ReplyDelete