When jihadists govern: Lessons across the Sahel cases

Written by

Morten Bøås

Research Professor

Ed.

Summary:

Fifteen years of international engagement have failed to halt the rise of jihadist insurgency in the Sahel. The Jihadist Governance in the Sahel (JIGOV-Sahel) research project shows that neither the absence of the state nor the insurgents’ ideological commitment alone is the cause. The state is present in ways that generate resistance, and jihadists govern because they fulfil functions the state does not. Norwegian and international strategies should move away from a military-first response and from the restoration of the same state, and towards assistance that strengthens state legitimacy, services, and rule of law in the daily lives of citizens.

Published year: 2025
Publisher: Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Page count: 4
Language: English
Volume: 2026
Booklet: 9