Mobility, Mobilization, and Counter/Insurgency: The Routes of Terror in an African Context

In his book "Mobility, Mobilization, and Counter/Insurgency," Daniel Agbiboa explores how insurgents, state security forces, and civilian populations use mobility to their advantage in African conflicts. He highlights the contradictions of mobility in conflict zones, showing how it can be both a resource and a burden. The book offers fresh insights into the strategies of violent extremist organizations, the responses of states to terrorism, and the treatment of civilian populations in transit.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

In his groundbreaking work, "Mobility, Mobilization, and Counter/Insurgency," Daniel Agbiboa delves into the intricate relationship between mobility, insurgency, and state security forces in African conflicts. By offering a transdisciplinary perspective, he sheds light on the crucial role that mobility plays in the strategies of insurgents, state security forces, and civilian populations caught in the midst of conflict. Through a detailed analysis of the Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad region, Agbiboa provides fresh insights into how violent extremist organizations exploit local immobility and border porosity to mobilize new recruits. He also explores how the states' "war on terror" mobilizes against so-called subversive mobilities, and how civilian populations in transit are treated as potential terrorists and subjected to extortion and state-sanctioned violence.

Agbiboa's work challenges Eurocentric representations of movement in Africa, highlighting the contradictions of mobility in conflict zones. He demonstrates how mobility can be both a resource and a burden, as it facilitates the movement of insurgents and their resources but also poses risks to civilian populations. The book is intellectually rigorous yet accessible, engaging readers with its clear and concise writing style. It is a seminal contribution that lays bare the neglected linkages between conflict and mobility, offering valuable insights into the complex dynamics of contemporary African conflicts.

In conclusion, "Mobility, Mobilization, and Counter/Insurgency" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the role of mobility in contemporary African conflicts. Agbiboa's transdisciplinary approach provides a fresh perspective on the complex dynamics of insurgency and state-security forces, and his analysis of the Boko Haram insurgency offers valuable insights into the strategies and tactics employed by violent extremist organizations. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to better understand the challenges posed by mobility in conflict zones.

Weight: 528g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472132904