Boko Haram (BH) is an extremist Islamic-based organization that is against the spread of western education and influence. Originating from Nigeria, the terrorist group makes their base in the northern part of the country which is home to a large percentage of the Muslim population while the south is home to a large percentage of the Christian population. They believe that western culture has corrupted their government and culture so they aim to create their own Islamic state under sharia law in the northern half of the country. Nigeria is a country that faces a great deal of corruption and inefficiencies by the government, often leaving the majority of the population in impoverishment. BH uses this to their advantage, by building …show more content…
It is necessary for the government to reach out towards communities that are pipelines for supplying men to the insurgency. By increasing opportunities available to young men through education, they are more likely to receive employment and drastically unlikely to join terrorist organizations. Improving the quality of life in many of these targeted regions would also be a bonus. Working through mosques and religious leaders would be an effective and direct way to stop any chance of extremist manipulation. Reformation of the police force is absolutely necessary for any good to come to Nigeria. With training and help from other, more experienced nations the Nigerian security forces would then be more capable in tracking down and eliminating the terrorist threat while simultaneously keeping their innocent citizens safe. Establishing multinational security ties would benefit Nigeria and bordering countries to counteract not only BH but also any other extremist group to rise up in the region. Finally re-integration of Islamist militants, in particular youth who were draw in and brainwashed who show desire to reform without. They are the ones who can be rehabilitated and will be the best advocates against extremist organizations. In addition religion plays a large role in this conflict. The divisions between these two religious groups are apparent in every day life in Nigeria.It is the great rifts between the people of either Muslim or Christian faith that have allowed an terrorist group like BH to be created. The Nigerian people need to come together and identify as a nation instead of by their
In his essay, Rodriguez believes that the diplomatic affairs we see on the evening news are merely being disguised as a religious war. The fight over oil or land when in reality it is the fight between whose side God is on, the attacks under the control of Al Qaeda when perhaps it’s the greed for power or world domination. According to Richard, these religious wars are allowing terrorism to become prevalent; often times within the same culture (147).
“Sierra Leone Rebels Forcefully Recruit Child Soldiers.” HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH. 1 June 2000. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.
For decades, Uganda’s economy has suffered through disappointing economic policies and instabilities. These setbacks have been put forth by a chronically unreliable government, leaving it as one of the world’s poorest countries. Uganda’s weak infrastructure and corrupt government are two of the primary constraints against a continuation of economic growth. Uganda has ongoing military involvement in the War on Congo, wrongly taking money from the already deprived country and into the war. Many villages in Uganda also have to waste their precious money and time in pursuit of hiding places. They are faced with a group known as, The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). LRA is infamous for their twenty years of massacre and slaughter in Uganda, causing an estimated 1.5 million internally displayed persons. Several people are questioning why the LRA is still terrorizing the country and criticizing the government’s commitment to putting an end this horrific group. The Inspector General of Government (IGG) ...
"Center Update: Case Studies on Religion and Conflict." The Berkley Center. Georgetown University, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012.
...at shocked me through all these articles is how there weren’t a single positive story about Nigeria. I had to get to the third page before I found something that was “kind of positive” about Nigeria. These definitely illustrate what the speaker was saying about single stories. Also 8 out of 10 stories where related to Boko haram. Therefore it won’t be a surprise for me to hear that people believe that Boko haram is the daily cup of tea. I didn’t really found anything that was directly related to the chapter because most of the stories were about BOKO haram crisis. The only thing that I found related to the chapter was how the Biafra war that has opposed the three major’s ethnics groups: Yoruba, Igbo and Hausas is still reflecting on the actual Nigerian crisis. In the north were these crisis are occurring, only certain ethnic groups or religious groups are attacked.
Lewis, James. "Can Islam Reform?" American Thinker. N.p., 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Extremism manifests itself dangerously in the Islam religion (Palmer, Monte, and Princess Palmer, 37). The Muslim religion has some laws and believes that no one should question their design, origin or application. Good people should punish immoral people in Islam religion without showing mercy to them. In Islam, human beings have no right to offer forgiveness to others that can easily lead to and create peace to oneself in the society. The unforgiving nature makes human rights groups in many ways try to change and support governments that try to overthrow Muslim extremist governments. Such an approach creates a war never ending between the Muslim governments and other governments that fight the extremist ideals. In East Africa, Somalia presents a case example by observing how the Government is not able to control the ever fighting and dreadful Al-Shabaab. The “Al-Shabaab” is an Arab name for Muslim youth who over the years try to use enforce extremist rulers in governing the country and hence controlling the resources. Muslim fighters and rebels arm themselves with arsenals they use to fight groups that oppose them by killing and torturing them. The al-Shabaab launches attacks that kill people and openly claim responsibility for the losses and the deaths they cause. They also punish members who commit sin using the retrogressive laws of the Quran on the people they label sinners. Other extremist
...’s depictions of both traditional and modern beliefs in varying degrees illustrate the importance of both in contemporary Nigerian culture, as well as the greater Africa as a whole, and how both are intertwined and cannot exist without the other. In effect, she skillfully subverts stereotypes or single perceptions of Africa as backward and traditional, proving instead, the multifaceted culture of Africa. She further illustrates that neither traditional African nor western culture is necessarily detrimental. It is the stark contrast of the fundamental cultures that inevitably leads to clashes and disagreements. In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.
"We know that dictators are quick to choose aggression, while free nations strive to resolve differences in peace. We know that oppressive goverments support terror, while free governments fight the terrorists in their midst. We know that free peoples embrace progress and life, instead of becoming the recruits for murderous ideologies." George W. Bush, (Speech to UN General Assembly, September 21, 2004) Al Shabaab, an armed group is waging a brutal war aimed at toppling Somalia's government and imposing Islamic law. Since its inception in 2006 the terrorist group has been indicative of a violent powerful movement. Somalia's operation is mainly centered in the southern and central regions. The group is fighting an insurgency against the Somali Federal Government, African Union Mission and their allies. Therefore, this paper is designed to take a look into the terrorist organization al Shabaab.
Al Qaeda is an international terrorist organization that was founded by Osama bin Laden in the late 1980s in Peshawar, Pakistan. The name is Arabic for “The Base of Operation” or “method” (Burke 2004). However, many experts agree that al-Qaeda is more dangerous as an ideology than as an organization. As an organization, it has been weakened by fragmentation, arrests, and deaths of the top leaders. This has caused the structure of the organization to be destroyed, resulting in the lack of a central hub for the militant group. One thing that remains is the ideology, which is fueled mainly by a hatred of Western, Zionist, and Semitic cultures and beliefs (Burke 2004). As a result, many people may not be directly part of the al Qaeda network or even directly linked to bin Laden. Due to their common views and beliefs of Western culture, militant groups loosely associated to al Qaeda have been formed, carrying on the original objectives that bin Laden had in mind when he created this organization.
Okeke, Phil E. "Reconfiguring Tradition: Women's Rights and Social Status in Contemporary Nigeria." Africa Today 47.1 (2000): 49-63.
"Africa's Militant Islamist Groups." BBC News. BBC, 5 Dec. 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. .
In Gbarnga, peacekeepers patronized a club called Little Lagos, "where girls as young as 12 years of age are engaged in prostitution, forced into sex acts and sometimes photographed by U.N. peacekeepers in exchange for $10 or food or other commodities,"
My essay is about the effect of terrorism or acts of terror on children in a society. I picked this topic because it is not just significant to me but if bought to the notice of the Government and general public it will help the future of a nation. The current acts of terrorism in Nigeria and the kidnapping of over 200 girls (children) in the country which has now become an international issue shall be the focus of my discuss.
In conclusion Nigeria has never been able to sustain a legitimate democracy. The legacies of British colonialism have created unstable political institutions that have been extremely susceptible to military coups. While ethnic tensions have lead to political party association and corruption, rent-seekers and continual economic decline have decreased support for the government. Although recently Nigeria has seen a shift away from military control as people have recognized its unsuccessfulness, questions still remain about the new democracy. Consider the last time this type of democracy was established, it only lasted four years. Given all these factors and the military history of OlusgunObasanjo, it is no wonder the new democracy is considered fragile.