Radicalization, violence and (in) security What 800 Sahelians have to say International Research Report Reda Benkirane, Scientific Director, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue Perception study on the drivers of insecurity and violent extremism in the border regions of the Sahel This research project has been carried out by Disclaimer the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. The views expressed in this publication are those The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is a of the authors, and do not represent the views or private diplomacy organisation founded on the engage the responsibility of the United Nations principles of humanity, impartiality and Development Programme (UNDP). independence. Its mission is to help prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflict through dialogue and mediation. For more information: www.hdcentre.org Translation Be advised that this is a translated document. The French version of this report is the only applicable and authentic version. « This survey has fostered a greater understanding of cross border areas and their populations» A focus group participant in Dakar, 7 July 2015 “Be the voice of the voiceless. It is a gaping wound for present and future generations.” Statement by a community leader in a focus group in Yaoundé 2-3 July 2015 “There are no under-developed countries, there are only under-analysed,, underestimated and unloved (sous-aimées) countries“ Jacques Berque (1910-1995) “I am waging a war (Jihad) against you. Indeed ye are right because I am really combating for the Countenance of the Lord. But I am waging my Jihad through Knowledge (ulum) and Fearing the Lord (taqwa)” Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba (1853-1927) “1.The hunters declare: Every life is a life. It is true that a life comes into existence before another life But no life is more ‘ancient’, more respectable than any other. In the same way no one life is superior to any other. 2. The hunters declare: As each life is a life, any wrong done unto a life requires reparation. Consequently, no one should freely attack his neighbour, no one should do wrong to his neighbour, no one should torment his fellow- man. 3. The hunters declare: That each person should watch over their neighbour, that each person should venerate their genitors, that each person should educate their children as it should be done, that each person should provide to the needs of their family.” The Mandé Charter, Manden Kaliken, 1222 “Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” Qur’an (5, 32), 7th century ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Project Management – Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) Head of project, Scientific Director Reda BENKIRANE, sociologist, associate researcher at the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP) at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID, Geneva), at Centre Jacques Berque (CNRS USR 3136, Rabat, Morocco) and member of IrPhiL [l'Institut de Recherches Philosophiques] in Lyon (IrPhiL, University of Lyon). Deputy Head of project, Operations Coordinator Soline AUBÉ Regional Director Alexandre LIEBESKIND Regional Coordinator, Francophone Africa Constance VIDEMENT National teams Raguidissida Emile ZIDA, Research Manager, national report - Burkina Faso Jacob YARABATIOULA, Research Manager, field survey - Burkina Faso Nadine MACHIKOU, Research Manager, national report - Cameroon Claude LINJUOM MBOWOU, Research Manager, field survey - Cameroon Isaie DOUGNON, Research Manager, national report - Mali Boukary SANGARÉ, Research Manager, field survey - Mali Mariem BABA AHMED, Research Manager, national report - Mauritania Mamadou LAM, Research Manager, field survey - Mauritania Amadou OUMAROU, Research Manager, national report - Niger Kadidia ALI GAZIBO, Research Manager, field survey - Niger Efem N. UBI, Research Manager, national report - Nigeria Sharkdam WAPMUK, Research Manager, field survey - Nigeria Abdourahmane SECK, Research Manager, national report - Senegal Rachid Id YASSINE, Research Manager, field survey - Senegal Remadji HOINATHY, Research Manager, national report - Chad Djimet SELI, Research Manager, field survey - Chad Thematic international experts Jean-François BAYART, Professor at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Geneva) and Director of the Chair for Comparative African Studies (UM6P, Rabat) Hervé GONSOLIN, HD Special Adviser on peace and security Ibrahima GUISSÉ, Senior Researcher, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Geneva Pierre HAZAN, HD Special Adviser on transitional justice Rachid ID YASSINE, Statistics Expert, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal Pierre-Michel JOANA, Security Expert, CIVIPOL Zidane MÉRIBOUTE, HD Special Adviser on religious dialogue Gwenola POSSÉMÉ-RAGEAU, HD Special Adviser on gender and civil society Burkina Faso Watakane MOHAMED Interviewers Thematic Experts Fatimata TAMBOURA Dr. Moulaye HASSANE Saïdou DIALLO Dr. Issoufou YAHAYA Abdoulaziz DIALLO Moussa MOHAMED Sambo Emmanuel OUÉDRAOGO Frederick Ndoubabe ASNGAR Nigeria Thematic Experts Interviewers Baba HAMA Musa Aliyu MAMPAA Sibiri BADOUN Anthony RUFUS Inès ZOUNGRANA Jonathan Bayih DANGWARAN Usman Ibrahim GASHUA Cameroon Raji Rafiu BOYE Yakaka ABUBAKAR 5 Interviewers Saidu.T UMAR 6 Thematic Experts Samuel OBADIAH Mohammed UMAR Mali Thematic Experts Interviewers Professor Haruna DANTORO DLAKWA Lucie BELLO Professor Fred AJA AGWU Nana Alassane TOURE Elder Timothy MSHELIA JP Alkassoum BARKA Dr. Aliyu AHMED-HAMEED Modibo Galy CISSÉ Ousmane AHIMIDOU Senegal Mohamed M. ABDOULAYE Interviewers Bala KONÉ Khadidiatou DIA Hamidou Tiécoura MARIKO Muhammad BA Thematic Experts Mandiaye SAMBOU Boureima KANSAYE Fatou SALL Ousmane KORNIO Cheikh Tidiane MBOW Thematic Experts Mauritania Me Boubine TOURE Interviewers Khadidiatou DIA Khally DIALLO Blondin CISSÉ Ilo Idriss SOW Muhamad BA Oumar Mamadou LAM Cheikh NDIAYE Mariem NDIAYE Mariam LY Chad Thematic Experts Interviewers Jemal OUMAR Félix KAGUENANG Baye Tidiane DIAGANA Allah-Kauis NENECK Adam NETCHO Niger Ousmane MOUMINE Interviewers Fatimé NGARADOUM Idi SANOUSSI Oumar Moussa MAITCHAIRI Mohamed MOUSSA Mahamat Moussa BOUGAR Manou NABARA HAMIDOU Thematic Experts Amadou BOUBACAR Madjiasra NAKO Yacoudima TCHIROMA Bakary SALLI Maina GREMA SANI Ousmane MOUMINE Maman TASSIOU Perception Study – Contents The Perception Study has resulted in 9 reports as follows: 1. International Research Report. Radicalization, violence et (in)security. What 800 Sahelians have to say. 2. Burkina Faso: the rise of cross-border insecurity. 3. Cameroon: the political economy of violence in the Far North. 4. Chad: balancing needs and insecurity. 5. Mali: local conflict and the call for justice. 6. Mauritania: radicalization and citizenship. 7. Niger: instrumentalizing religion: the economy of insecurity. 8. Nigeria: nationhood Crisis and Violent Extremism as a Poverty Issue. 9. Senegal: citizenship on the alert. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: AN ‘EPIC, UNUSUAL AND STRATEGIC STUDY’ 1. Perceptions: the challenges 2. Methodology I. THE STATE AND CITIZENSHIP, RELIGION AND IDENTITY 1. The State: geographical extent and historical depth Slavery and servitude: the hidden variables of radicalization? Some key issues related to the state 2. The state: norms and forms The states of the Sahel: three common denominators Radicalism in an era of globalisation 3. Religion: dormancy and new trends The three stages of Islamization 4. Religion: political expression and the demand for citizenship II. INTER-COMMUNAL AND CROSS-BORDER DYNAMICS 1. The border as creative frame, generator of personal ties and wealth Cultural richness and social diversity: the border as mixing place Beyond subsistence: the border as a zone of relative abundance 2. Ethnic tensions and the collapse of the nomadic way of life 3. Daily life subject to conflict, harmful flows and corruption The cross-border region as a focal point of imbalance Rethinking the periphery, restoring the relationship with the governed III. RADICALIZATION: CLUES AND PROCESS 1. Tentative definition and the demographic influence Radicalization as a drug: healing remedy and/or deadly toxin The pattern of growth Demographics 2. The religious expression of radicalization Religious fundamentalism and violence: the perils of shortcuts The potentiality of violence The collapse of the traditional system of religious teaching: the breeding ground for violence 3. Semantic warfare: the consequence of “floating signifiers” Vocabulary: its impact on conflict and the comprehension of the adversary Jihad and (in)security: who says what? 4. (In)secure and (in)humane practices: coping with extreme violence Stunning violence; appalling cruelty The possibility of a “dirty war” IV. THE ROLE OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 1. Demographic weight vs. social subordination 2. Women as victims/actors on the front line: towards change in the social order Perceptions of vulnerability The role of women as protectors 3. Young people: the weak – but essential – link in the ‘terror economy”’ “What does a 20-year-old dream of?” When socio-economic normality is impossible to access: the potential attraction of extremism The impasse of de-radicalization The solution at the individual level V. AVENUES FOR REFLECTION ADDENDUM: STATISTICAL AND THEMATIC INSIGHTS I. Statistical study of the perceptions of people living on the border regions of the Sahel II. De-radicalisation: