PowerPoint of the Presentation on
the “Islamic Jihad in Africa”
NSF participants heard a most riveting and complete presentation on the “Islamic Jihad in Africa: Expanding Threats in the War on Terrorism”. Doctor/Colonel Dick Hobbs and retired Foreign Service officer Ted Morse led the discussion that focused on the co-opting by Al Qaeda of formerly nationalist Islamic movements in Northern and East Africa into the worldwide jihad.
Militant Islam has been active in Africa for several decades. Much of their terrorist activity was started by smaller national groups fighting for local agendas. But with the heightened commitment to the worldwide Jihad agenda of establishing the Islamic Caliphate (empire), and pressure on Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the international Jihad movement has decentralized and energized the local movements. That has resulted in jihadi strategies, tactics and personnel that are more focused on confronting Western culture, institutions and people, not just local enemies any longer.
Hobbs and Morse pointed out that Islamic insurgencies have developed increasing numbers of followers and militant participants within in the large (est. 400 million) Muslim population on the African continent. They are now joined or led by committed Islamists hardened in other conflicts or recruited (from many countries, including some from the United States) to expand Jihad into regional and international conflicts.
They noted that Al Qaeda central in Pakistan has been weakened by the loss of many leaders, primarily by targeted U.S. drone strikes. However, the al Qaeda franchises in the Middle East are still operating effectively. In addition, al Qaeda has increased its contacts and support for groups in Africa which pose a growing threat.
Morse and Hobbs described the extent of expanding militant Islam in Africa and analyzed the extent that this expansion represented a threat to US interests–in Africa, America and the international War on Terrorism.
Both NSF members have extensive experience in this area. Retired Senior Foreign Service Officer and international consultant Ted Morse has 50 years experience in Africa and other international conflict zones, including two tours in Iraq. A specialist on Muslim countries, he has lived and worked in several developing countries with large Muslim populations. Colonel/Dr. Richard Hobbs is a former Middle East Officer, author, and a specialist on Islam and Africa. He is a retired combat infantry officer, professor, and businessman. Hobbs has worked, taught, and written in the international arena for over 50 years, including at the Pentagon, the State Department, and in international operations for a major corporations.
We have attached the Hobbs-Morse PowerPoint presentation for your review.
- Ty