The growing threat of Boko Haram and other violent
extremists in West Africa has become a daily reality evidenced by bombings,
kidnappings and horrible slaughter of innocents. Not only are they gaining
sufficient roots but it is assuming a proportion and sophistication that far
outpace the capabilities of conventional state security organisations to deal
with them. From Kano to Gao , fundamentalist continue to unleash unjust and
extreme interpretation of religion on civilians while weak, corrupt and
inefficient governments struggle to provide sustainable protection for them. Twice in a month, the leaders of ECOWAS
have met in Accra to discuss among other things, the reality of terrorism as
transnational and regional security problem.
Attention has been given to rising Islamist activities as a major cause.
Others causes noted in countless literature include arms proliferation, weak
governments and unsophisticated security apparatus to pre-empt and counter
terrorist attacks. Some literatures even suggest that the rise terrorism in
Africa is self-evident in our culture. That African culture is inundated by
culture of violence that permeates the fabric of most African countries. Even
though these reasons may hold true, they are largely immediate rather than root
causes of terroris
Climate
change and climate variability is the driver of terrorism in West Africa than
anything else. Rising temperatures, shorter rainy seasons worsen by erratic
rainfall and diminishing yields amplify completion for diminishing resources.
In northern Nigeria where Bokko attacks and kidnappings are daily occurrences,
rainfall reduced by 30% since the 1970s according to Imo Ekpoh in a 2011 study
of climate variability in northern Nigeria.
With about 95% of agriculture in the region rain fed, a 30% reduction in
rainfall exacerbated by persistent drought is a formula for disaster. Dry and
lifeless land put more pressure on people. As livelihood sustainability become
impossible they will look for ways out of their predicament, and when a cult
leader or terrorist says, “Follow me”, they just might do so.
Again climate change and climate variability
accelerates environmental degradation as much as environmental degradation
accelerates climate change. Poor
rainfall coupled with extreme weather events such storms and floods advances
degradation of vegetation and consequently land cover and fertility. Reduced soil
fertility directly impact for prices of foods and poverty in such an
ecologically sensitive region. This is a straight sentence to poverty,
deprivation and despair - excellent conditions for terrorist groups to cash in
and recruit poorly educated individuals, to their sundry causes, people who are
desperate to improve their lot in life.
In
the final analysis, poverty, injustice, violent extremist and terrorism will
continue to plague Africa in general and West Africa in particular for some
time to come unless the root causes of diminishing resource, climate change and
climate variability are addressed. Until West African leaders wake and adopt
clear adaptation measures such as social protection and empowerment of the
vulnerable. Some humanitarian efforts here, some military assistance there,
some words condemning terrorist attacks, some words threatening large-scale
military intervention, appear to be the extent of the West’s reaction, at least
overtly, to the growing terrorist threat in West Africa. However, these act to
reactionary rather than preventive.
While
other nations can help, until all of West Africa’s leaders make a determined
effort to mitigate the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation and
build climate-resilient societies and economies, and improve social protection
and justice, the region will continue serving as a breeding ground for
terrorists.
