insert_link Africa Between witchcraft and terrorism: how social fears in coastal Kenya impact religious expression By Erik Meinema, Utrecht University Kenya’s coastal region has, since about 2011, grappled with terrorist attacks carried out by the Somalia-based Islamic terrorist organisation Al-Shabaab. Muslims in coastal Kenya have long complained about their relative marginalisation versus Christians. Al-Shabaab has sought to capitalise on this sense of marginalisation to draw recruits and support from a small minority of Kenyan Muslims. Kenyan authorities have also associated […] todayJune 7, 2024 17
insert_link World New Caledonia separatists urge Paris to drop voting reform Separatists in French Pacific territory New Caledonia pressed Paris Monday to drop a planned voting reform that triggered weeks of deadly unrest. The Socialist Kanak National Liberation Front (FLNKS) -- named for the indigenous people who fear being marginalised by the changes -- said President Emmanuel Macron should "be clear in his words by stating clearly he will... abandon the constitutional reform", which has yet to be […] todayJune 3, 2024 19
insert_link Africa Sudan’s civil war is rooted in its historical favouritism of Arab and Islamic identity By Hamdy A. Hassan, Zayed University The current civil war in Sudan goes beyond a simple power struggle between two generals. It reflects a deep-rooted crisis within the country’s governing structure that’s been present since it gained independence from the British in 1956. Since independence, the Sudanese have experienced 35 coups and attempted coups, more than any other African country. In the country’s southern region a 56-year […] todayApril 29, 2024 5