The Journey to Extremism in Africa: Drivers, Incentives and the Tipping Point for Recruitment presents the results of a two-year UNDP Africa study aimed to generate improved understanding about the incentives and drivers of violent extremism, as expressed by recruits to the continent’s deadliest groups themselves.
A UNDP project featuring photographs and stories documented in 2016 across six African countries that have been directly affected by violent extremism – Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Somalia and Uganda.
The stories captured in the collection seek to shed light on and amplify the voices of those who often suffer in silence. Their diverse religious, ethnic and national backgrounds highlight that violent extremism is a shared burden and one that humanity as a whole must respond to. There are stories of resilience, perseverance and the triumph of humanity over unimaginable cruelty. The stories are not only about tragedies, but also about people who are rebuilding their lives again. It is hoped that this initiative will raise awareness on the human cost of violent extremism across the African continent and thereby drive and inspire continued efforts to prevent it.
