A new report from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), written by research
analyst Riza Kumar, exposes the repercussions of deploying civilian
counterterrorism militias in Mali, Niger, and Mozambique in response to the
severe threat of Islamic extremist violence facing each country.





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CEP Report: Civilian Counterterrorism Militias Take Action, Introduce New
Challenges to Combatting Violent Extremism in Africa


(New York, N.Y.) — A new report
<[link removed]> from the Counter Extremism
Project (CEP), written by research analyst Riza Kumar, exposes the
repercussions of deploying civilian counterterrorism militias in Mali, Niger,
and Mozambique in response to the severe threat of Islamic extremist violence
facing each country.



The report details how these countries have incorporated additional lines of
defense alongside conventional counterterrorism methods to address the
protracted insurgencies carried out by regional affiliates of the global terror
networks of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in recent years. Along with local
counterterrorism militias, Bamako, Niamey, and Maputo have also sought the
assistance of progovernment militias (PGMs), such as Russia’s notorious Wagner
Group, a private military company guilty of unlawful violence and other crimes
against humanity.



CEP’s research traces the specific histories of civilian militias in each
country to shed light on the detrimental impacts of the rise of civilian-led
counterterrorism forces and PGMs. In Mali, for example, the report shows that
1,313 confirmed civilian casualties have been recorded over the past five years
due to the actions of these auxiliary forces.



Riza Kumar, research analyst at the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), commented:



“Civilian militias appear to be cost-effective, easy to mobilize, and
significantly expand the number of actors involved in combating violent
extremists. However, without proper oversight and control, they are likely to
become more predatory over time, prioritizing self-serving agendas over their
counterterrorism duties as their power and influence grow.



At present, the risks posed by these militias are neither actively assessed
nor addressed, leading to serious long-term challenges for the state in
sustaining public confidence in its governance and rebuilding trust in
increasingly ineffective national militaries. Civilian militias remain
unaccountable.”



To read the new report, please click here
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