National Reconciliation in Algeria (1999-2020): Deradicalization and Strategies of Disengagement from Violent Extremism

CMES is pleased to present a virtual talk with

Djallil Lounnas

Associate Professor of International Relations at Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco

Register in advance on Zoom: https://bit.ly/3Irx5jB

Over 40,000 foreign fighters joined Syria-Iraq between 2011 and 2014  to fight in the ranks of various jihadi groups, mainly in ISIS. However, since 2015, the major issue has been the return of foreign fighters to their home countries and the central concern was about what should be done facing this phenomenon. The Algerain experience in deradicalization and disengagement sheds light on possible ways of dealing with such a phenomenon with 15,000 fighters having benefited from what has been called the National Reconciliation Strategy, and less than 200 relapsing into jihadism. This talk is based on interviews conducted with various actors that have been involved in this process.

Djallil Lounnas is Associate Professor of International Relations at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco. He is also the coordinator of Al Akhawayn research team part of the H2020 EU research consortium Preventing Violent Extremism (PREVEX) project. His research has been focused on violent extremism in the North African-Sahel region.

Lounnas has published numerous academic papers on this topic including Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Middle East Journal etc. He is also the author of the book Jihadism in North Africa-Sahel: From Al Qaeda to Daech published in L'Harmattan-Les Presses de la Fondation pour la Recherche Strategique (2019). His current research aims at comparing the strategies of deradicalization in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia with regard to foreign fighter returnees.

Contact: Liz Flanagan