Counterterrorism in North Africa: How different states respond to the challenge of violent extremism

Over the course of ten years since protests in which demonstrators called for dignity and civil rights spread across North Africa, the political landscape there remains diverse. Governance ranges from constitutional monarchy in Morocco, to ailing army rule in Algeria, to challenged democracy in Tunisia, to civil and militia rule in Libya to an authoritarian, aspiring dictatorship in Egypt.

Delving into one policy area, Inga Trauthig will discuss the counterterrorism (CT) and counter violent extremism (CVE) policies and practices of five North African countries: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco from 2011-2021. She will outline which policies exist on paper, and how they are implemented institutionally and societally, including exploring how the region is defined by a security-heavy approach, with most countries relying on military means to fight terrorism.

She will also discuss how, from a Western perspective, two security policy concerns dominate foreign strategy deliberations about the North Africa region. The first is the anxiety around migration from and through these countries into Europe, seen by some as a burden on European societies and economies. Secondly, there is the fear of security threats, such as terrorism, spilling over into Europe or endangering foreigners in North Africa. She will therefore also address how Western assistance has buttressed certain CT and CVE practices.