The New Vitality of Salafism in Côte d’Ivoire: Toward a Radicalization of Ivoirian Islam?

Abstract

This article examines recent developments of Salafism in Côte d’Ivoire by exploring how the movement has evolved over the last 25 years through its main national associations and leaders. Although the situation with regard to terrorism has changed in this country since the attack in Grand-Bassam on 13 March 2016, the intent of this article is to move beyond a reductive focus on security and counterterrorism by painting a more-nuanced portrait of one local manifestation of a global movement often reduced to violence and conflict. Far from becoming radicalized and despite increasing levels of activism, the country’s Salafi elites and main national associations have demonstrated civic engagement and opposition to terrorism. They also increased their participation in the socioeconomic arena as well as their willingness to act as a key intermediary between the Muslim community and the country’s political leadership.

Innovation Synergy

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Does Turkey Support Development in West Africa? The Example of Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast

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Songs from the Hunters’ Qur’an: Dozo Music, Textuality, and Islam in Northwestern Côte d’Ivoire, from the Repertoire of Dramane Coulibaly

“…18.Although Dramane was clearly responding in his remarks about the Qur’an to the growing presence of Salafi Muslims in Côte d’Ivoire (Hellweg 2011:107), Salafism was hardly the sole source of Muslim condemnations of dozoya. Many Ivoirian Salafis have long avoided open confrontation with those they criticize on religious grounds (Madore 2016); and, well before Salafism’s arrival, Muslim status was a potential hedge against being enslaved by the nineteenth-century Muslim polity of Odienné. This situation may have motived some dozos to practice Islam to the extent possible at the time (Hellweg 2011:122–23).…”