Into Africa: The Islamic State’s Online Strategy and Violent Extremism in Africa (David P. Fidler, John Campbell, CFR)

Military campaigns in Iraq and Syria have re-taken territory from the Islamic State and damaged it in other ways, including its ability to finance military operations. As counter-attacks continue in the Middle East, the Islamic State’s activities in Africa, especially North Africa,are increasing. These activities include a defining characteristic of the Islamic State—its use of the Internet and social media to strengthen its control of territory and advance its extremist agenda. This aspect of the group’s efforts in Africa has garnered less interest than the number of its fighters in North Africa or itsterritorial foothold in Libya. However, the Islamic State is applying its online strategy in Africa, which raises questions about how to respond to this development.

http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2016/04/21/into-africa-the-islamic-states-online-strategy-and-violent-extremism-in-africa/