The rise of violent non-state actors in the Sahel : the case of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)‎

Abstract EN

Since the end of the cold war, the Sahel region has witnessed a rise of various violent non-state actors (VNSAs), including insurgent groups, terrorist groups, militias, and criminal organizations, which have been affecting the security and stability of every state in the region, and the Sahel region as whole.

This paper attempts to highlight the emergence of violent non-state actors (VNSAs) in the Sahel region, it investigates the causes that enabled these armed groups to grow up and thrive, and it also examines the national and regional security implications of the growing presence of those armed groups.

In addition, this paper relies on the case of AL-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) as a prominent violent non-state actor in the Sahel region through highlighting its origins, ideology, objectives, tactics, and its security impact.