View on Africa: Mali’s young ‘jihadists’
New research shows why young people join ‘jihadist’ groups.
Young people in Mali’s jihadist groups are often seen as unemployed, idle and fanatical. However, there is little evidence to support this characterisation.
New research based on interviews with more than 60 formerly engaged youths assessed the role that religion and unemployment play in encouraging them to join jihadist groups. The research findings challenge conventional wisdom on an issue that is crucial to stability in Mali and its neighbours.
This View on Africa is presented by Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni, Office Director, ISS Dakar. She will present the study’s main findings and highlight relevant policy implications.
About View on Africa
Do you want to know what's happening in Africa, where it's happening and what it means for the continent's many actors? Join the ISS View on Africa weekly briefing every Wednesday from 11h00 - 12h00 CAT. ISS researchers from Dakar, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Pretoria provide expert analysis of major events and trends in Africa. Introductory remarks are followed by discussions among participants.
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