Traditional counter-terrorism approaches, with their emphasis on the military, are failing. This is seen in the fact that there is an average of three terrorist attacks per day in Africa. This study calls for more holistic solutions, with an emphasis on development and better governance to curb the scourge of terrorism.

1. Chapter One: Understanding the Terrorist Threat in Africa and the Limitations of the Current Counterterrorist Paradigm 2. Islam in Africa 3. Al Shabaab in Somalia: Between Clan and Faith 4. Ansar Dine in Mali: Between Tuareg Nationalism and Islamism 5. Nigeria's Boko Haram: Contesting Ethnic, Religious and Regional Identities 6. Responding to Terror: An Assessment of African Union Counterterrorism Strategies 7. Responding to Terror: An Assessment of US Counterterrorism Strategies in Africa 8. Conclusion

Hussein Solomon is Senior Professor in the Department of Political Studies and Governance at the University of the Free State, South Africa, and a Senior Research Associate of the Israeli-based Research for the Study of Islam and Muslims in Africa (RIMA). He is also a Senior Analyst for the American-based think tank WikiStrat.