Islam in Africa
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Refugees in Libya
An unlikely safe haven
Migrants and refugees from Africa and beyond find shelter in a former major smuggling route to Italy. Zuwara, once a muster point for those seeking to jump on a raft to Europe, is now proving a haven for those fleeing conflict and instability in other countries. By Karlos Zurutuza
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Album: ″Lost in Mali″
Celebrating a musical landscape
Showcasing a rich diversity of West African music traditions, ″Lost in Mali″ plunges the listener into a world apart. Incidental audio footage of street sounds and children playing enhances the ″on-location″ feel. Richard Marcus reviews the album
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Islamism in eastern Africa
Not immune to terror
Somalia, Kenya and their neighbouring countries are increasingly being haunted by extremist violence. This essay assesses why this region has become a hotbed of Islamism and why one-dimensional military interventions by external forces have not delivered the desired results. By Emmanuel Kisiangani
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The rise of Boko Haram
When the terror began
In his new book, journalist Mike Smith describes the rise of Boko Haram from an obscure sect to a feared terrorist group. According to Ulrich Schwerin, while Smith vividly portrays the group's violent practices, he leaves many questions about the movement's goals, structures and financing unanswered
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Abderrahmane Sissako's film "Timbuktu"
In the beginning there was violence
Abderrahmane Sissako's film "Timbuktu" portrays the nightmarish horror of Islamist rampages and at the same time invokes gentleness as a source of resistance. The compelling story is captured in masterful imagery by the cameraman Sofiane El Fani. By Hans-Jörg Rother
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The Congress "Horizons of Islamic Theology"
A disintegration of Islam?
Academics from all over the world met to debate Islam at the congress "Horizons of Islamic Theology" in Frankfurt in early September. But the event was overshadowed by the acts of terror being perpetrated in the name of the faith by Islamic State and other extremist organisations. By Claudia Mende
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Kidnapping by Boko Haram
Failing the mothers and daughters of Nigeria
Just when President Goodluck Jonathan was hoping to showcase his country and its economic strength at the World Economic Forum on Africa in the Nigerian capital, the world is witnessing his country's trauma and the president's failure to counter the terrorist threat posed by the Islamic militants of Boko Haram. By Claus Staecker
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Islamism and Politics in Zanzibar
Religious Hatred in Paradise
For the some hundred thousand tourists that visit Zanzibar each year, the island is paradise on earth. Yet, beyond the calm of its tourist venues, religious tensions on the island have been increasing. The attacks on churches, hate tirades by preachers, and leaflets inciting violence are but mileposts of a growing religious radicalization. Danja Bergmann reports
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Interview with Guido Steinberg
"Al-Shabab Attacks Could Destabilize the Entire Region"
An expert on militant Islamism Guido Steinberg says the attack on a Nairobi shopping mall by the Al-Shabab militia shows that the Somali-based conflict is spreading to neighbouring countries. Interview by Philipp Sandner
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Interview with Mali Expert Marie Rodet
''The Whole Region Is Potentially Explosive''
According to West Africa expert Marie Rodet, although the conflict in Mali has not yet been fully resolved, the situation there has improved, and there are other countries in the region that are a greater cause for concern. Jonas Berninger spoke to her about the reasons for the French intervention and Mali's future
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Libya's Tawergha People Barred from Return
Collective Punishment
Ever since August 2011 armed groups from Misrata have been preventing about 35,000 Tawerghans from returning to their homes. They accuse Tawerghans of fighting with pro-Gaddafi forces during the 2011 conflict and committing war crimes in Misrata. A field report by Valerie Stocker
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Interview with Bakary Sambe
''In the Arab World, We Africans are Viewed as Inferior Muslims''
The French military intervention in Mali has triggered controversial reactions among Muslim intellectuals in West Africa. While there is almost universal rejection of jihadism, opinion about France's political motives is divided. Charlotte Wiedemann spoke to the Senegalese political scientist Bakary Sambe