Boko Haram
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Africa Cup of Nations in EgyptPolitics casts a long shadow
This evening, Algeria will play Senegal in Cairo International Stadium in the final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Joseph Hammond takes a look at how the football championship has unfolded for Egypt and its relevance for the country, which was not originally slated to host the competition at all
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Radical IslamismNegotiating with jihadists?
In Asia and Africa, Muslim terrorists are regarded as combatants with concerns that should be taken seriously. Experts advise dialogue in lieu of extermination. By Charlotte Wiedemann
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Africa's MuslimsPawns of the Saudis
Rich Saudis are investing millions in building mosques in Africa. And they are being accused of using radical preachers to destabilise the region. But there has long been much more at stake on the African continent than proselytising. By Gwendolin Hilse
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Non-fiction: ″Stolen Girls″ by Wolfgang BauerWhat hides in the woods
Satellite images of Duhu, Gubla or Gulak reveal little. A road flanked by scattered settlements runs through sparse terrain. Somewhat further away, the Sambisa forest. North-eastern Nigeria – home to the Islamist terrorist organisation Boko Haram, described by Wolfgang Bauer in his shocking and poignant reportage ″Stolen Girls″
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Islamists in AfricaThe ever-present threat
Boko Haram in Nigeria, Al-Shabab in Somalia: Islamist groups dominate the image of Islam in Africa. Yet it is too simplistic to assert that Islam south of the Sahara is becoming more conservative as whole. By Daniel Pelz
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Islam the bogeymanTarred with the same brush
The fear of Islam is socially construed and tied to societally entrenched anti-Muslim racism that fails to distinguish between Islam and Islamism. Essay by Andreas Bock
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Interview with war photographer Andy SpyraThe pull of war
He is one of Germany's most sought-after photographers, his main theme: war. Andy Spyra talks to Bettina Baumann about the hurdles and limits of conflict zone photography – and why it fascinates him
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Global strategies in the war on terrorEliminate the breeding grounds
One of the reasons for terrorism is a world order that is out of whack, which no longer reacts appropriately to crises around the globe, writes Syrian publicist Mohammed Dibou. Neither ″national″ nor ″continental″ measures can offer the protection craved by the West's citizens
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Caliphs and assassinsBetween myth and reality
Although the Ottoman Caliphate was abolished in 1924, there remains a lasting fascination for this lost institution. The Tubingen Islamic studies scholar and historian Heinz Halm conducted meticulous research on the Fatimid caliphate in 11-12th century Egypt. Andreas Pflitsch read the book
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Refugees in LibyaAn 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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Islamic artIconoclasm: the counter-narrative
Although received wisdom would have us believe otherwise, Islam is not actually an anti-iconic religion. Indeed, down through the ages, it has always produced images. Today, artistic creativity needs to resist the appalling flood of visual information being produced by the jihadists. By Asiem el Difraoui and Antonia Blau
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The rise of Boko HaramWhen 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
