Inside Story

Is ISIL gaining a foothold in southern Africa?

Leaders in southern Africa are considering possible troop deployment to northern Mozambique amid a rise in attacks.

Mozambique has a seen a rise in attacks across its northern region in recent months.

Dozens of people were killed when ISIL (ISIS)-linked fighters raided a hotel in the northern town of Palma last month.

And now, it’s emerged that 12 of the victims – possibly foreigners – were beheaded during that siege.

The attack prompted southern African leaders to hold emergency talks and come up with a response to the growing crisis.

But is a regional intervention the answer?

And could it fend off the threat from ISIL?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Joseph Hanlon – visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and author of A Decade of Mozambique: Politics, Economy and Society 2004-2013

Noufal Abboud – executive director of The Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation

Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi – research fellow at George Washington University Program on Extremism