The Islamic slaughter of Africa’s Christians
by Karen Harradine, TCW:
RECENT headlines have been devoted to that pair of narcissistic grifters, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who grizzle about the ‘racist’ press and ‘unconscious bias’. Those eager for evidence of real racism, xenophobia and persecution need to look no further than the continuing brutal slaughter of Christians in Africa by Islamists.
Islamism and the persecution of Christians in Africa are intrinsically linked. Weakened governments on the continent are worn down by years of fighting a losing battle against jihadists, and are enfeebled by their own corruption and conspicuous consumption. The unnecessary and destructive global shutdown over Covid-19 has served to weaken them further, and embolden Islamic extremists, who have accelerated their plans to establish a Caliphate.
The Islamic State (IS) in Africa is rapidly expanding. IS West African Province (ISWAP) has stepped up its activities in the Sahel, pledging allegiance to the new IS Caliph, Abu al-Husayn al-Husayni al-Qurashi.
Nigeria is being ravaged by the three-pronged menace of ISWAP and their rivals, Boko Haram and Fulani militants. ISWAP and Boko Haram especially want to eliminate Christians as part of their jihadist crusade, in an ongoing ethnic cleansing which could soon rival the 1994 Rwandan genocide if left unabated.
On the Nigerian side of Lake Chad, ISWAP and Boko Haram have been fighting each other for dominance since 2016. The war is displacing millions, spilling over into the rest of the Sahel and killing thousands. Fishermen on Lake Chad pay a ‘levy’ to ISWAP militants, a trophy prize which Boko Haram ruthlessly aim for regardless of how many they murder or maim in this pursuit. Their rivalry is ripping apart the Sahel, and innocents are suffering.
Since Islamists began their terror campaign in Nigeria 14 years ago, over two million people have been displaced and 40,000 killed. Christians there make up half the population of just over 200million. That’s a lot of people being subjected to persecution on a daily basis.
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