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Showing posts from March, 2025

Social Identity Theory (SIT) and the Construction of the In-and-Out Group Narrative in "The Alienation of Muslims in Al-Andalus"

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Authored by: Rene de Klerk and Cara Rau  Screenshot from  Al-ʿUqāb Magazine Bottom Line Up Front A new Islamic State-supportive media outlet, Al-Iman Media Centre has emerged in online chatrooms. At the time of writing (1 June 2026), the Centre has released the first issue of its magazine and has advertised the second issue in its chatrooms.  The magazine is called "Al-ʿUqāb", which means "The Punishment" and is a staggering 84 pages long. Issue 1 features numerous articles covering various themes such as the Sudan war, the Gaza conflict, and colonisation in Africa.  The magazine features an article titled "The Alienation of Muslims in Al-Andalus", providing what the magazine frames as the perspective of a Muslim in modern-day Spain.  The release of this magazine comes after the media outlet released the below poster apparently urging attacks against the Pope, who represents the wider Christian community, and the upcoming Soccer World Cup. Additionally, it...
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The Implications of SADC Troop Withdrawal from Eastern Congo on Regional Stability

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                                                                    Photo credits: The Chronicle ZW The withdrawal of SADC troops from the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) represents a significant turning point in the conflict dynamics within the region. SADC's military intervention, which has for years remained at the core of containing the activities of armed militias and supporting the government of the DRC. The withdrawal of these troops raises pressing questions about the future of regional stability, security governance, and the broader implications for the DRC and its neighbours. The rationale behind this withdrawal, the immediate security void that it creates, and the potential for increased conflict are all paramount in ascertaining the long-term stability of the region. The SADC and EAC Foreign Minis...
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JNIM

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JNIM Fighters in the Sahel. Photo credits: Long War Journal Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), al-Qaeda's most formidable African affiliate, has evolved into a sophisticated hybrid threat across the Sahel, effectively combining guerrilla warfare,  economic exploitation, and community co-option, generating an estimated annual revenue exceeding $100 million from illicit activities,  and achieving a battlefield lethality surpassing regional military capabilities to control territories larger than Belgium;  this short analysis, drawing upon classified intelligence, defector accounts, and field observations, examines JNIM’s structure and development,  revealing an ideological shift from global jihad to localised legitimacy under Iyad Ag Ghaly, wherein the group strategically exploits ethnic grievances, climate vulnerabilities,  and anti-colonial sentiment, as evidenced by their 2023 "Charter of the Sahel" aiming for an "Islamic...
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