Science & Tech
African States Hop on the Network Surveillance Bandwagon
Governments in Sudan, Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia are the latest to deploy sophisticated network eavesdropping tools against their citizens.
Ideas
The Boko Haram War Machine Is Far from Defeated
Pushed back by government troops, the extremist group has shown its flexibility by returning to more asymmetric tactics.
Threats
Burkina Faso's Elite Troops Just Took Control of the Country
The West African nation is no stranger to military coups. And the latest caps months of tension between the transitional government and a unit of shadowy presidential security guards.
Ideas
The Allure of ISIS Has Reached Long-Stable Ghana
So far, recruits number a tiny handful of people in a nation of 26 million. But Ghanaians should hear alarm bells ringing.
Ideas
The Nigerian Military's Inconvenient Truth
By emphasizing his desire for weapons above military reforms, Nigeria's new president squandered a valuable opportunity to raise an important issue in U.S. policy circles.
Ideas
Obama Must Address Kenya’s Alarmingly Weak Counterterrorism Plan
Kenya is under immediate terrorism threat, yet its leaders block civil organizations, target Muslims and extort bribes.
Policy
After Obama Snub, Nigerian President Brings Security Wish List to Washington
Some critics questioned President Obama’s omission of Nigeria on his upcoming trip to Africa. President Buhari's visit to Washington this week may help bridge that gap.
Threats
What International Law Says When Boko Haram's Captive Nigerian Girls Commit Atrocities
The world must determine who's at fault after Nigeria's terrorist organization forced many kidnapped Chibok girls to do horrible things.
Threats
What Africans Think Is the Biggest Threat to the Continent
Terrorism is up there, but it doesn't top the list.
Threats
Can Tunisia Stop Terrorism With a Wall?
History suggests that building a wall on the Libyan border might not be all that effective.
Threats
To Beat Boko Haram, Nigeria Must Craft a Future for Its Child Soldiers
Boko Haram has anywhere between 7,000 and 10,000 regular fighters, and no military campaign against them can—or should—envisage killing them all.
Ideas
Forget Ivory, Africa's al-Shabaab Terrorists Are Getting Rich on Coal in Somalia
False portrayals of the terrorist group's role in the ivory trade could leave us with both more terrorists and fewer elephants in Africa.
Threats
Boko Haram and Nigeria's Army Are in a Human Rights Abuse Feedback Loop
Just as the White House wants to escalate its role in Nigeria's war with Boko Haram, Amnesty International says Abuja's army has a disturbing abundance of human rights abuses all its own.
Threats
How Kenya’s Counterterrorism Effort Turned Counterproductive
Even the staunchest anti-Shabaab Somali community feels alienated by the security forces’ brutal tactics.
Threats
New Nigerian President Buhari Has a New Plan for Taking on Boko Haram
Muhammadu Buhari's op-ed in the New York Times signals a change in approach to taking on the terrorist group.
Threats
The Students at the Kenyan University Were Warned of a Terrorist Attack
A raggedy poster — assumed to be a joke — foretold of a coming campus assault.
Threats
Terrorists Are Turning Their Sights on Schools and Students
From attacks on schools by the Pakistani Taliban to kidnappings of students by Boko Haram in Nigeria, young people are proving an alluring target for violent groups.
Policy
Boko Haram and Hackers Couldn't Stop the Nigerian Election
Millions of Nigerians ignored threats of violence and endured long waits at some faulty polling stations as voting for their new president extended through Sunday.
Threats
US Confirms Drone Strike Killed Al-Shabaab Leader Tied to Mall Attack
A U.S. drone last week killed Adan Garar, who Pentagon officials said planned Western attacks and was linked to Kenya’s West Gate Mall massacre.
Threats