Islamic Terror Group Takes Over Vast Regions of Africa

A vast swath of Africa, called the Sahel, has fallen under the control of ISIS and Al Qaeda-linked groups.

No media, no protests, no UN condemnations, nothing.

The only condemnation coming out of the global left is against the Jew defending a country against the jihad scourge.

“Show me just what (Islamic Prophet) Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” Pope Benedict XVI quoting from a 14th-century dialogue between the Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologos, and a Persian scholar.

Africa: The Rise of Islam

https://twitter.com/Muslims4D/status/1830548226790830209

A vast swath of Africa, called the Sahel, has fallen under the control of ISIS and Al Qaeda-linked groups.

No media, no protests, no UN condemnations, nothing.

Islamic Group Slaughters Over 400 DEAD, Hundreds Wounded in Burkina Faso

The hidden hand behind the ISIS/Al Qaeda takeover of a vast stretch of Africa

Centuries of religiously motivated violence continues across Africa

By Jeff King and International Christian Concern – Special to Higher Ground – Tuesday, September 17, 2024:

On September 9, jihadist militants launched a coordinated assault on several Christian villages in Burkina Faso, resulting in one of the deadliest attacks in the country’s history. Heavily armed Islamists killed 200, burned homes, looted properties, and forced thousands to flee, leaving a trail of devastation.

Yet, this attack, like so many others, received scant attention in the Western press. Why? Because the big picture is often missing.’

A broader conflict in the Sahel

Simply put, a vast swath of Africa, called the Sahel, has fallen under the control of ISIS and Al Qaeda-linked groups. The Sahel is a vast region stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. It lies just south of the Sahara Desert and encompasses some of Africa’s most fragile states, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and northern Nigeria.

For many Westerners, this conflict is almost invisible because it is being fought in numerous countries, each with its own unique ethnic and political tensions. Also, the jihad is being fought by a word-salad array of groups with different affiliations, allegiances, and strategies. Groups such as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), Ansaroul Islam, and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) frequently appear in reports, with overlapping memberships and shared tactics.

More Fulani jihadist history

The Fulani’s infatuation with jihad predates the Sokoto Caliphate. Their earliest recorded involvement in jihadist activity dates back to the late 17th century in Bundu, present-day Senegal. By 1690, the Fulani had established a political state in Bundu, setting a precedent for future jihadist movements.

One of the earliest large-scale uprisings led by the Fulani occurred in 1725 in Futa Jallon (present-day Guinea). Supported by Muslim traders, Fulani pastoralists rose against indigenous chiefdoms, leading to the establishment of the Imamate of Futa Jallon by 1750. Governed by Sharia law, Futa Jallon became a model for subsequent Fulani jihadist movements.

Similarly, the Fulani in the lower Senegal region launched a jihadist movement between 1769 and 1776, which led to the formation of the Imamate of Futa Toro. Like Futa Jallon, this state was governed by Islamic principles and aimed to purify Islam in the region.

Another significant Fulani-led jihadist movement occurred in Massina, in present-day Mali, in 1818. A Fulani religious leader named Seku Amadu declared jihad, establishing the Massina Empire. Like previous Fulani-led jihadist states, the Massina Empire was governed by Sharia law and played a significant role in the spread of Islam across West Africa.

Fulani history: The Sokoto Caliphate

To understand the Fulani’s role in these jihadist movements, we must first look at their history, particularly the founding of the Sokoto Caliphate in the early 19th century. The caliphate, founded by Fulani religious leader Usman dan Fodio, became one of the largest empires in West Africa, covering parts of modern-day Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. It was built on the principles of radical Islam and aimed to purify and restore the practice of Islam in the region.

Born in 1754 in present-day Nigeria, Usman Dan Fodio was deeply concerned about the perceived corruption and laxity in Islamic observance among the Hausa rulers of the time. In 1804, he declared jihad against these rulers, accusing them of deviating from Islamic principles. Within a few years, his movement gained widespread support among the Fulani and other marginalized groups, resulting in the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate in 1808. The caliphate was organized into emirates, each governed by an emir appointed by the caliph. It implemented Sharia law and emphasized Islamic education, often through the memorization of the Quran. Its success was largely based on its military power, which helped to enforce the caliphate’s laws and maintain control over its vast territories. The Sokoto Caliphate was not only a religious and political entity but also a militant empire built on the principles of jihad.

Modern Fulani Jihadist activity across the Sahel

In the last 20 years, the Sahel and Nigeria have seen a dramatic increase in Islamist violence, with the Fulani playing a disproportionately large role in the conflict. Though the motivations behind their involvement are complex and varied, including simple greed, the primary driver remains jihad. What we are seeing today is a continuation of the Fulani’s long history of religiously motivated violence. Several key militant groups in the Sahel have a significant Fulani presence. The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) is one such group. Though not exclusively Fulani, ISWAP has recruited heavily from Fulani communities and maintains strong ties to Fulani leaders. Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is another important group, formed in 2017 as a coalition of several militant factions, including the Fulani-led Macina Liberation Front (FLM). JNIM has carried out numerous attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Ansaroul Islam, founded by Fulani preacher Ibrahim Malam Dicko, operates in northern Burkina Faso and has been responsible for numerous attacks on both military and civilian targets, contributing significantly to regional instability. The group’s activities have created a humanitarian crisis, exacerbating intercommunal violence, displacing thousands of people, and plunging the region into greater chaos.

The recent attack in Burkina Faso serves as more than a singular tragedy — it is an alarm calling for a nuanced and updated Western strategy to confront the rising tide of jihadism across the Sahel. But this jihad cannot be fully understood or countered without recognizing the historical and strategic role of the Fulani. Their involvement in jihadist movements is deeply rooted in history, and their influence continues to shape the current conflict in the region.

The Fulani’s hidden leadership and influence within these militant groups remain pivotal. Unless the West uncovers and addresses the intricate networks they have built, any intervention will only be superficial. The “hidden hand” of the Fulani remains the key to either continued chaos or the potential for peace. By prioritizing an in-depth understanding of their role, Western nations can begin to dismantle the Jihad that has destabilized the region.

Without this critical lens, the Sahel risks becoming an entrenched battlefield where the violence of radical Islam perpetuates, humanitarian crises worsen, and hope for stability continues to slip further away.

The path to peace runs through the shadowy network of Fulani leadership, and until this network is fully understood, the region will continue to unravel and lead us into a deeper conflict.

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